Abstract
Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in the pediatric population remains a significant cause of pediatric patient morbidity and mortality. For these patients, oral rehydration therapy is an intervention that should be initiated with the first signs and symptoms of AGE. Oral rehydration therapy should be based on the degree of clinical dehydration. Clinical findings, such as those used in the clinical dehydration score, should be utilized as a means to standardize the dehydration assessment. Recent evidence supports the use of ondansetron, both orally and intravenously, to facilitate oral rehydration when vomiting is a concern. Consideration should be given to a trial of ondansetron therapy in the management of children with AGE to potentially avoid intravenous rehydration and hospital admission.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.