What is gastroenteritis?
an acute infection of the bowel which causes vomiting and diarrhoea
List 4 common symptoms of gastroenteritis?
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- abdominal cramps
- fever
List 4 conditions that could be mistaken for gastroenteritis in children?
- acute appendicitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- partial bowel obstruction
- sepsis
- strangulated hernia
- urinary tract infection
- pneumonia
- otitis media
The infectious organisms causing acute gastroenteritis fall under 4 main heading. What are they and give an example of each?
- viruses= rotavirus,adenovirus, Astro virus
- bacterial= salmonella, clostridium difficile, shingella
- protozoa= giardia lamblia, entamoeba, cryptosporidium
- helminths= strongloides stercoralis
What is the most likely causative organism of viral gastroenteritis?
The rotavirus is responsible for approximately 50% of all hospital admissions of children with severe acute gastroenteritis
List 4 signs and symptoms which may lead you to question the diagnosis of gastroenteritis.
- severe abdominal pain with significant tenderness, distension, mass or guarding
- bile stained vomiting
- blood in the vomit or stool
- headache
- signs of shock
- photophobia
- vomiting in the absence of diarrhoea
What is the single most important measure in preventing the spread of viral gastroenteritis?
Hand hygiene
why are children more prone to dehydration than adults?
- higher portion of fluid in the body weight
- higher metabolic rate
- higher body surface to volume ration
- relatively smaller fluid reserve
list 6 signs and symptoms you may expect to see in an infant that is moderately dehydrated?
- decreased urine output
- sunken eyes
- reduced skin tugor
- altered conscious state
- dry mucous membranes
- immature kidneys unable to concentrate or dilute urine effectively
why can drinks such as lemonade make diarrhoea worse?
It can increase water loss
why can children with gastroenteritis present with metabolic acidosis?
It can cause an imbalance of acids (+) and bases (-) in the plasma.
why do children with gastroenteritis need to be weighed before breakfast everyday?
Indicative of fluid loss or gain.
Enables us to tell how hydrated the child is.
As a staff member what can you do to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis to yourself and other pt’s?
- practice hand hygiene
- wear PPE
- nurse child in single room
why is enteral (oral/NG) rehydration favoured over IV rehydration?
- corrects acidosis and dehydration quicker than IV fluids
- less risk of seizures when correcting hypernatraemia
- safer as it avoids the risk associated with rapid fluid and electrolyte shifts
- vomiting settles more quickly
- appetite returns earlier.
