Use of intravenous fluids in Hong Kong children hospitalised for diarrhoea and relationship to severity and aetiology.
This study assessed the clinical management and impact of diarrhoea aetiology (rotavirus positive/negative) and rotavirus genotype on diarrhoeal disease severity. Of 7391 diarrhoea admissions less than 5 years of age over a 2-year period, 80% of patients were tested for rotavirus, 87% were cultured for bacterial pathogens and 78% were assessed for both. Diarrhoeal severity scores were greatest in those children with mixed rotavirus and bacterial infections. Between 1.3 and 8.4% of infants were considered dehydrated yet intravenous fluids were used for 48% of infants (69% rotavirus positive, 72% mixed infection). These findings support the promotion of oral rehydration therapy over intravenous fluids.
Chow
C M
CM
Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, PR China.
Choi
Kai
K
Nelson
E Anthony S
EA
Chan
P K S
PK
Mast
T Christopher
TC
DiStefano
D
D
Tam
John S
JS
Bresee
Joseph S
JS
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000628:therapy; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution