Initial Assessment & Management
Fifth edition (2008)

Acute diarrhoea can be defined as the sudden increase in the frequency, fluidity or volume of the stools of less than 7 days duration. 

In Australia most acute diarrhoea in children is caused by the self limiting infective illness loosely termed gastroenteritis.  The most important problem associated with it is dehydration. Normal stool patterns vary in infants, the child with significant illness will present with illness either mild or severe. While most have mild to moderate diarrhoeal disease some Australian children die each year from dehydration caused by gastroenteritis.

There are now effective vaccines for the prevention of the commonest viral diarrhoea with Rotavirus and other principals of management relate to assessment of dehydration, avoidance of antibiotics and resumption of normal feeding as soon as the diarrhoea begins to subside.

To view the full booklet go to: assets/documents/Diarrhoea in Children v8.pdf


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