title: The home management and characteristics of children presenting to hospital with acute gastroenteritis.
abstract: Large numbers of Australian children are admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis. This study aimed to describe the home management of children with acute gastroenteritis prior to presentation at a paediatric hospital. Parents received inadequate information regarding fluid rehydration, particularly from general practitioners, and there was a lack of parental awareness in relation to ORS usage. Children attending childcare were over represented among the sample. The majority of children were only mildly dehydrate presentation to hospital. Education programs are needed to increase community awareness ORS and improve home management of acute gastroenteritis.
authors.affiliation: Staff Development & Research Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Queensland.
authors.forename: Damhnat
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Longbottom
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nissen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010343:Patient Admission; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012651:Self Medication / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015532:Rehydration Solutions