Gastroenteritis 6: Routine Diet and Micronutrients

Feeding children with gastroenteritis
Zinc elemental oral
Vitamin A oral
Potassium Chloride (KCl) oral

Feeding children with gastroenteritis

• Never stop breast feeding (unless there is another contraindication).
• After the first 4 hours, do not withhold feeds. (Feeding reduces the duration of diarrhoea in most cases).
• In non‐breastfed dehydrated children, feeds must be re‐introduced after the first 4 hours of rehydration.
• Any child with diarrhoea asking for food or taking oral fluids can be fed.
• Small amounts are usually well tolerated.

Zinc elemental oral

• < 1 year of age: 10mg/day/orally
• > 1 year of age: 20mg/day/orally 
  for a total of 10 days (zinc reduces stool output and the chances of a repeat bout in the following three months)

Vitamin A oral

All children who are admitted for gastroenteritis require a dose of Vitamin A:

• < 1 year of age: 100000 IU orally stat
• > 1 year of age: 200000 IU orally stat

NB: Note this extra dose in the RTHB

Potassium Chloride (KCl) oral

• < 6 months of age: 125mg 8 hourly orally for 2 days
• > 6 months of age: 250mg 8 hourly orally for 2 days

NB: Do not give potassium chloride to children who have been shocked until the renal function test results have been reviewed and it is considered appropriate to supplement potassium intake.

This guidance is in part taken from:
WC Gastroenteritis Fam Med & Paeds Protocol 2014 
&
New Somerset Hosp Paeds Gastro Protocol 2014