Evaluation and Management of Dehydration in Children

Genevieve Santillanes; Emily Rose

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2017.12.004

Evaluation and Management of Dehydration in Children

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2018 May;36(2):259-273. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2017.12.004. Epub 2018 Feb 10.

Authors

Genevieve Santillanes¹, Emily Rose²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1200 North State Street, GH Room 1011, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1200 North State Street, GH Room 1011, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. Electronic address: emilyrose010@gmail.com.

PMID: 29622321
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2017.12.004

Abstract

The article discusses the evaluation of dehydration in children and reviews the literature on physical findings of dehydration. Pediatric dehydration is a common problem in emergency departments and wide practice variation in treatment exists. Dehydration can be treated with oral, nasogastric, subcutaneous, or intravenous fluids. Although oral rehydration is underutilized in the United States, most children with dehydration can be successfully rehydrated via the oral route. Selection of oral rehydration solution and techniques for successful oral rehydration are presented. Appropriate selection and rate of administration of intravenous fluids are also discussed for isonatremic, hyponatremic, and hypernatremic dehydration.

Keywords: Dehydration; Fluid bolus; Hypernatremia; Hyponatremia; Intravenous fluid; Oral rehydration; Subcutaneous rehydration.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Administration, Intravenous
Administration, Oral
Child
Dehydration / diagnosis
Dehydration / therapy*
Fluid Therapy / methods*
Humans
Hypokalemia / prevention & control
Isotonic Solutions / administration & dosage
Pediatric Emergency Medicine / methods*

Substances

Isotonic Solutions