• J A Craven, L Campbell, and C T Martin.
• Paediatric Emergency Department, National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24. jcraven@ausdoctors.net
• Ir Med J. 2009 Mar 1;102(3):85-7.

AbstractOral rehydration is well established in the treatment of acute gastroenteritis, however it is profoundly underutilised as a treatment in the hospital setting. We introduced a protocol of waiting room oral rehydration for children presenting to the Paediatric Emergency Department with vomiting and/or diarrhoea. These children were given oral rehydration from the time of triage prior to medical assessment. During the study period, 251 children presented 269 times with vomiting and/or diarrhoea, of which 205 (76%) were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. A similar period 1 year previously was used as comparison, during which 129 children were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. During the study period, 58 children (28%) were given intravenous fluids and 47 (23%) were admitted, compared with 72 (56%) given intravenous fluids and 42 (32%) admitted in the comparison group. This protocol is now part of our routine management of children presenting with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. Waiting room oral rehydration is a simple yet successful intervention that can be implemented in any Emergency Department.

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