Acute Gastroenteritis and Oral Rehydration Therapy

What is acute Acute gastroenteritis is the medical name for when a virus invades the gastroenteritis? stomach and intestinal tract. Your child may have diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain. Your healthcare provider becomes worried if your child has been vomiting and/or had diarrhea and is not drinking enough liquids. When a child has vomiting and diarrhea, their body loses salt and water. This causes dehydration and can make your child very sick.

What does Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid (through diarrhea, vomiting) dehydration look than you are able to take in by drinking liquids. If your child has had runny bowel movements and/or vomiting and has been unable to drink much fluid like in my child? in 24 hours, they are at risk of dehydration. You should call your doctor.

Early symptoms of • Thirst dehydration are: • Dry, warm skin • Decrease in amount of urine (pee) and urine color changes to dark yellow • Weak or dizzy when standing • Crying with few or no tears • Dry mouth • Irritable

Severe symptoms of • Sunken eyes or dark circles under the eyes dehydration are: • Very fast heartbeat • Fast, deep breathing • Weak and tired, with decreased activity (lethargy)

How is If your child is dehydrated, they may be placed in the hospital so that doctors dehydration and nurses can keep a close watch. In the hospital, your child will get fluids to replace the water and salt lost through vomiting and diarrhea. This fluid may treated? be given through an IV, or if your child is not vomiting, the doctor may recommend an oral rehydration solution. This is a water and mineral mixture your child drinks. Lactobacillus is a “friendly” bacteria that lives in our gut. Taking lactobacillus can shorten the number of days of diarrhea caused by acute gastroenteritis. Your child’s provider will prescribe lactobacillus. Give it to your child as directed. Please partner with your provider and ask for lactobacillus if it is not prescribed for your child.

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To Learn More Free Interpreter Services • Ask your child’s healthcare provider • In the hospital, ask your nurse. • seattlechildrens.org • From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.

Acute Gastroenteritis and Oral Rehydration Therapy

What is an oral It is a medical name for a liquid that contains sugar, salts and other rehydration electrolytes. These liquids are available in grocery and drug stores. In oral rehydration therapy, your child drinks the solution in small amounts every solution (ORS)? 5 to 10 minutes (unless there is vomiting) until they can keep the solution down without vomiting.

Some brand names • Pedialyte of oral rehydration • Rehydralyte solution are: • Infalyte • Pedialyte Popsicles If your child is breast-fed, keep breast-feeding.

How do I give the • Use a spoon or syringe to give the liquid. liquids? • We will give you a log to keep track of what your child drinks.

How much liquid • If your child is less than 20 pounds, give 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of liquid do I give and how every 5 minutes. often? • If your child is over 20 pounds, give 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of liquid every 5 minutes. • If your child does not vomit for 20 minutes, you may double the amount of liquid you are giving every 5 minutes. • If your child is vomiting and not able to keep any liquids down, stop giving any liquids for 20 minutes and then try again. • If your child is not vomiting, do not limit the amount of liquid you offer your child.

When can my Your child can leave the hospital when: child go home? • Symptoms are improving and overall your child’s condition is improved • Your child is able to drink liquids and keep them down without vomiting • You are able to show success with the oral rehydration therapy Please note: If your child is mainly formula-fed, give lactose-free formula until the vomiting and diarrhea have stopped.

Seattle Children’s offers interpreter services for Deaf, hard of hearing or non-English speaking patients, family members and legal representatives free of charge. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request. Call the 6/20 Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201. This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your child’s PE636 needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon this information, please talk with your child’s healthcare provider.

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