Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children: A Survey among Members of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

Ji Hyun Seo, Jung Ok Shim, Byung Ho Choe, Jin Su Moon, Ki Soo Kang, Ju Young Chung

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Purpose: No national survey has yet described the guidelines followed by Korean pediatricians to treat acute gastroenteritis (AGE). An online survey was performed to investigate the management of AGE followed by members of The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and the results were compared between pediatric gastroenterologists (PG) and general pediatricians (GP). Methods: Questionnaires were sent to pediatricians between June 2 and 4, 2018 regarding the type of hospital, indications for admission, antiemetic and antidiarrheal drugs and antibiotics prescribed, and dietary changes advised. Results: Among the 400 pediatricians approached, 141 pediatricians (35.3%) responded to the survey. PG comprised 39% of the respondents and 72.7% worked at a tertiary hospital. Both PG and GP considered diarrhea or vomiting to be the primary symptom. The most common indication for hospitalization was severe dehydration (98.8%). Most pediatricians managed dehydration with intravenous fluid infusions (PG 98.2%, GP 92.9%). Antiemetics were prescribed by 87.3% of PG and 96.6% of GP. Probiotics to manage diarrhea were prescribed by 89.1% of PG and 100.0% of GP. Antibiotics were used in children with blood in diarrheal stool or high fever. Dietary changes were more commonly recommended by GP (59.3%) than by PG (27.3%) (p<0.05). Tests to identify etiological agents were performed primarily in hospitalized children. Conclusion: This survey assessing the management of pediatric AGE showed that the indications for admission and rehydration were similar between GP and PG. Drug prescriptions for diarrhea and dietary changes were slightly commonly recommended by GP than by PG.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)431-440
    Number of pages10
    JournalPediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
    Volume22
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2019 by The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

    Keywords

    • Child
    • Disease management
    • Gastroenteritis
    • Pediatricians
    • Surveys and questionnaires

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
    • Hepatology
    • Gastroenterology

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