title: Pediatric gastroenteritis in the emergency department: practice evaluation in Belgium, France, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Based on European recommendations of ESPGHAN/ESPID from 2008, first line therapy for dehydration caused by acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is oral rehydration solution (ORS). In case of oral route failure, nasogastric tube enteral rehydration is as efficient as intra-venous rehydration and seems to lead to fewer adverse events. The primary objective was to describe rehydration strategies used in cases of AGE in pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) in Belgium, France, The Netherlands, and Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic survey describing a scenario in which a toddler had moderate dehydration caused by AGE was sent to physicians working in pediatric emergency departments. Analytical data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Kruskal -Wallis Rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 68 responses, distributed as follows: Belgium N = 10, France N = 37, The Netherlands N = 7, and Switzerland N = 14. Oral rehydration with ORS was the first line of treatment for 90% of the respondents. In case of first line treatment failure, intravenous rehydration was preferred by 95% of respondents from France, whereas nasogastric route was more likely to be used by those from Belgium (80%), The Netherlands (100%) and Switzerland (86%). Serum electrolyte measurements were more frequently prescribed in France (92%) and Belgium (80%) than in The Netherlands (43%) and Switzerland (29%). Racecadotril was more frequently used in France, and ondansetron was more frequently used in Switzerland. No respondent suggested routine use of antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found variations in practices in terms of invasiveness and testing. Our study supports the need for further evaluation and implementation strategies of ESPGHAN/ESPID guidelines. We plan to extend the study throughout Europe with support of the Young ESPID Group.
authors.forename: Raphaëlle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pelc
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Redant
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Julliand
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llor
authors.forename: Mathie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorrot
authors.forename: Rianne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oostenbrink
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gajdos
authors.affiliation: Inserm, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, U1018, Reproduction and Child Development Team, Villejuif, France. francois.angoulvant@nck.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angoulvant
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001530:Belgium; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D015244:Thiorphan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000930:Antidiarrheals; D000932:Antiemetics; D004573:Electrolytes; D017294:Ondansetron; C049331:racecadotril; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015244:Thiorphan