What is the best method of rehydration in a child with mild to moderate dehydration?
Oral versus intravenous: Intravenous fluids are often used unnecessarily to treat dehydration associated with acute gastroenteritis.1,2,12 They are more expensive than oral fluids and their use requires admission to hospital. Electrolyte disturbance may result from the use of an incorrect type or volume of IV fluids. This may have severe consequences, including iatrogenic hyponatraemia which may result in brain injury or death. In addition, IV cannulation can be associated with emotional and physical trauma and infection. It is therefore reasonable to question whether oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are just as effective as IV fluids for managing children with mild to moderate dehydration. In one systematic review, IV and oral rehydration therapies were compared in children with mild to moderate dehydration. No significant differences were found between IV and oral therapy with regard to duration of diarrhoea, time spent in hospital and weight at discharge from hospital.18 A more rece