Admission to hospital with gastroenteritis.
A prospective study over a one year period examined preadmission illness and its treatment, social characteristics and referral patterns, and inpatient illness progression in 1148 children admitted with a primary diagnosis of gastroenteritis. Admissions were predominantly from socially disadvantaged families: 712 (62%) from social classes IV and V. Approximately a quarter were referred with minimal symptoms, only 12 (1%) with moderate to severe dehydration, and eight (less than 1%) with hypernatraemia. One hundred and ninety two of 1101 (17%) had not seen their general practitioner during the acute illness. One third had received no treatment and one third inappropriate antibiotics, antidiarrhoeals, antiemetics, or changes of milk. Gastroenteritis is a less severe illness than formerly but remains a significant cause of paediatric morbidity. Suboptimal treatment is common. Improved local district hospital and community based resources are needed.
Conway
S P
SP
Department of Infectious Diseases, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds.
Phillips
R R
RR
Panday
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012621:Seasons; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors