A 14-month-old girl from a remote First Nations community presents to a nursing station with vomiting and watery diarrhoea for 24 hours. She is drinki...

Question

A 14-month-old girl from a remote First Nations community presents to a nursing station with vomiting and watery diarrhoea for 24 hours. She is drinking but has reduced wet nappies. Examination shows dry mucous membranes, slightly decreased skin turgor and a capillary refill time of 2 seconds. Weight loss is estimated at 5%. What is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Oral rehydration therapy with appropriate solution and close monitoring

Answer

Immediate IV fluids and hospital transfer for all cases

Answer

Withhold fluids for 6 hours to rest the gut

Answer

Start broad-spectrum antibiotics

Answer

Give anti-diarrhoeal medications such as loperamide

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Paediatric dehydration from gastroenteritis