Pediatric gastroenteritis / dehydration

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• Viral, bacterial, or parasitic GI illness causes vomiting/diarrhea and fluid loss.
• Children dehydrate quickly due to smaller reserves and higher fluid needs.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Assess mucous membranes, tears, capillary refill, fontanel, urine output, and weight.
• Use oral rehydration for mild/moderate dehydration when appropriate.
• Escalate lethargy, poor perfusion, or inability to keep fluids down.

Complications

• Hypovolemic shock
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Seizures

NCLEX cues

• No tears, dry mucosa, decreased wet diapers.
• Weight is a sensitive fluid measure.

Memory hooks

• Kids dry out fast; count wet diapers.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.

Review notes

• Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.