Gastroenteritis 9: Discharge

If the following criteria are fulfilled, the child will usually be ready for discharge:

• Discharge weight > admission weight
• Bright eyed and alert
• Drinking well
• No vomiting in recent hours
• Plans for other problems do not require inpatient care

Follow up:

• Stools resolved: Hygiene advice (prevent another episode). Check Sugar Salt Solution (SSS) knowledge. No follow up required. Zinc elemental oral (10mg/day <1 years of age, 20mg/day >1 year of age) for 10 days.
• Stools still not fully formed: refer for weight and hydration check at local clinic. Advice re an extra meal a day for a week (WHO standard). In child’s Road to Health Booklet (RTHB) ‐ fill in any necessary details, and write a short note including discharge weight and complications. Check SSS knowledge. Zinc elemental oral (10mg/day <1 years of age, 20mg/day >1 year of age) for 10 days.
• Other problems present: follow up in Primary Care service (e.g. nutrition clinic, local authority clinic) unless specific hospital‐level service is required (remember the cost of transport to the family).
• Advise an extra meal a day for a week for every child after an episode of gastroenteritis to assist with regaining list weight.

NB. Always ensure that the parent/caregiver:

• Knows how to make home‐made oral rehydration solution safely
• Understands danger signs and where to access care
• Is reminded/taught the essentials of hand hygiene and safe food preparation.

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