No Clinical Dehydration

The aim is to prevent dehydration [1]

Discharge home from the Emergency Department. Reassure parents and carers that most cases can be safely managed at home.

Provide verbal advice to

• Continue breast feeds and other milk feeds
• Encourage fluid intake
• Discourage fruit juices and carbonated drinks
• If increased risk of dehydration, offer low osmolality ORS (i.e. Dioralyte , Electrolade ) as a supplemental fluid
• Seek advice from a healthcare professional if symptoms of dehydration develop
  • Appearing to get more unwell
  • Changing responsiveness (e.g. irritability or lethargy)
  • Decreased urine output
  • Pale or mottled skin
  • Cold extremities
• Advise on the typical duration of symptoms and to seek advice if they do not resolve within these timeframes
  • Vomiting: 1-2 days, most stop within 3 days
• Diarrhoea: 5-7 days, most stop within 2 weeks