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Diarrhoea and vomiting caused by gastroenteritis in children under 5 years

Chapter 5 Fluid management
In children with gastroenteritis but without clinical dehydration:
• continue breastfeeding and other milk feeds
• encourage fluid intake
• discourage the drinking of fruit juices and carbonated drinks, especially in those at increased
risk of dehydration
• offer oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution as supplemental fluid to those at increased risk of
dehydration.
In children with clinical dehydration, including hypernatraemic dehydration:
• use low-osmolarity ORS solution (240–250 mOsm/l)* for oral rehydration therapy
• give 50 ml/kg for fluid deficit replacement over 4 hours as well as maintenance fluid
• give the ORS solution frequently and in small amounts
• consider supplementation with their usual fluids (including milk feeds or water, but not fruit
juices or carbonated drinks) if they refuse to take sufficient quantities of ORS solution and do
not have red flag symptoms or signs (see Table 4.6)
• consider giving the ORS solution via a nasogastric tube if they are unable to drink it or if
they vomit persistently
• monitor the response to oral rehydration therapy by regular clinical assessment.
Use intravenous fluid therapy for clinical dehydration if:
• shock is suspected or confirmed
• a child with red flag symptoms or signs (see Table 4.6) shows clinical evidence of
deterioration despite oral rehydration therapy
• a child persistently vomits the ORS solution, given orally or via a nasogastric tube.
If intravenous fluid therapy is required for rehydration (and the child is not hypernatraemic at
presentation):
• use an isotonic solution, such as 0.9% sodium chloride, or 0.9% sodium chloride with 5%
glucose, for both fluid deficit replacement and maintenance
• for those who required initial rapid intravenous fluid boluses for suspected or confirmed
shock, add 100 ml/kg for fluid deficit replacement to maintenance fluid requirements, and
monitor the clinical response
• for those who were not shocked at presentation, add 50 ml/kg for fluid deficit replacement to
maintenance fluid requirements, and monitor the clinical response
• measure plasma sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine and glucose at the outset, monitor
regularly, and alter the fluid composition or rate of administration if necessary
• consider providing intravenous potassium supplementation once the plasma potassium level
is known.

Chapter 6 Nutritional management
After rehydration:
• give full-strength milk straight away
• reintroduce the child’s usual solid food
• avoid giving fruit juices and carbonated drinks until the diarrhoea has stopped.
Chapter 10 Information and advice for parents and carers
Advise parents, carers and children that: †
• washing hands with soap (liquid if possible) in warm running water and careful drying is the
most important factor in preventing the spread of gastroenteritis
• hands should be washed after going to the toilet (children) or changing nappies (parents/
carers) and before preparing, serving or eating food

* The BNF for Children (BNFC) 2008 edition lists the following products with this composition: Dioralyte®, Dioralyte® Relief,
Electrolade® and Rapolyte®.
† This recommendation is adapted from the following guidelines commissioned by the Department of Health:
Health Protection Agency. Guidance on Infection Control In Schools and other Child Care Settings. London: HPA; 2006 [www.hpa.org.
uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947358374]
Working Group of the former PHLS Advisory Committee on Gastrointestinal Infections. Preventing person-to-person spread following
gastrointestinal infections: guidelines for public health physicians and environmental health officers. Communicable Disease and Public
Health 2004; 7(4):362–84.

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