Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary

Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary

Case Summary

Viral gastroenteritis is characterized by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever. it is transmitted through the fecal-oral route via contact with other infected people or through ingesting contaminated food or water.

The most common viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis are rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, and astrovirus.

Acute viral gastroenteritis is usually treated with supportive treatments and is self-limited. There are no antiviral agents for the treatment of viral gastroenteritis. Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary

It is most important to assess the degree of dehydration in the child and take appropriate measures for treatment.

Dehydration is measured by the presence of weight loss, prolonged capillary refill time, loss of skir furgor, increased and deep respiratory pattern, diminished systolic and diastolic blood pressure, sunken fontanel, sunken eyes and dry mucus membranes.

Fluid repletion through IV fluids should be given if the dehydration is severe or the child is not tolerating oral liquids. For mild dehydration, oral rehydration is the first line treatment.

It is also recommended to continue an age appropriate diet. Although the BRAT diet and a clear liquid diet have been recommended in the past, those diets have been found to be restrictive and provide suboptimal nutrition.

Antidiarrheal and antimotility medications are not recommended for children due to the potential for serious side effects.

Antiemetics are not recommended in the routine management of viral gastroenteritis in children. However in cases of mild to moderate dehydration with persistent vomiting that interferes with oral rehydration, a single dose of ondansetron is reasonable Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary .

Patient disposition:

Samantha tolerated oral liquids well over the 24 hours. The next day, she was able to tolerate a regular diet. Her vomiting subsided over the next 24 hours and her diarrhea resolved in 48 hours. Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary.

Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary

Case Summary

Viral gastroenteritis is a condition where individuals experience watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes fever. This illness is spread through contact with infected people or by consuming contaminated food or water.

The most common viruses that lead to acute gastroenteritis include rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, and astrovirus.

Samantha Graves iHuman Problem Statement

Typically, supportive care is given for acute viral gastroenteritis, and it tends to resolve on its own. There are no antiviral medications specifically for treating viral gastroenteritis. Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary

The most crucial aspect is assessing the extent of dehydration in a child and taking appropriate steps for treatment.

Dehydration is determined by weight loss, prolonged capillary refill time, loss of skin elasticity, increased and deep breathing pattern, reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, sunken soft spots on the head, sunken eyes, and dry mucus membranes.

If dehydration is severe or the child can’t handle oral fluids, intravenous (IV) fluids should be administered. For mild dehydration, the preferred treatment is oral rehydration.

Continuing an age-appropriate diet is also advised. While the BRAT diet and clear liquid diet were recommended earlier, they are now considered too restrictive and not nutritionally adequate.

Using medications to control diarrhea and motility is not recommended for children due to potential serious side effects.

For routine management of viral gastroenteritis in children, antiemetic drugs are not generally recommended. However, if there’s mild to moderate dehydration and persistent vomiting affecting oral rehydration, using a single dose of ondansetron is reasonable. Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary

Patient Disposition:

Samantha was able to handle oral fluids well within 24 hours. The following day, she could tolerate a regular diet. Her vomiting lessened in the next 24 hours, and her diarrhea cleared up in 48 hours. Samantha Graves iHuman case Summary