Homecare issues in rotavirus gastroenteritis.
OBJECTIVE
This article will describe the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) and its management, highlighting educational issues that nurse practitioners can assist caregivers to enhance at-home management.


METHODS
A Medline search of the medical literature was used to identify articles that describe the burden, clinical presentation, and management of RGE.


CONCLUSIONS
RGE is a serious medical condition characterized by diarrhea and vomiting and is a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization among children aged 5 years or younger. Proper at-home treatment can be challenging; however, improved home care may limit emergency department visits and hospitalizations.


CONCLUSIONS
Mild to moderate RGE may be successfully managed at home if caregivers are adequately educated in deciding when a child needs to be evaluated in a physician's office and in managing dehydration at home.
Koslap-Petraco
Mary Beth
MB
Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Department of Health Services, Hauppauge, New York 11787, USA. marybeth.petraco@suffolkcountyny.gov
D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000379:methods; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D009017:Morbidity; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination