Management in practice of acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients

Acute gastroenteritis in children is one of the most common cause of consultation in Primary Care and it is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, specially in non-developed countries. We review the management of acute gastroenteritis infantile in Primary Care, specially in two specific issues: rehydration and early refeeding, the most important measures in the management of these patients. Oral rehydration therapy was found to be as effective as intravenous therapy in rehydrating children with mild to moderate dehydration and is the therapy of first choice in these patients. Early refeeding with milk or food after rehydration is recommended to restore nutritional balance as soon as possible. The routine use of antidiarrheal agents is not recommended, because many of them have potentially serious adverse effects in infants and young children.