Can children with mild gastroenteritis be as effectively treated with initial oral rehydration treatment using dilute apple juice compared to oral electrolyte maintenance solution?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

Gastroenteritis-related illnesses account for over half a million visits per year to health facilities in North America, and children routinely present to emergency departments (EDs) for assessment and treatment.[1] Oral rehydration treatment (ORT) with electrolyte maintenance solution is the standard primary rehydration solution for mild to moderate viral gastroenteritis.[1] This study challenges the dogma that electrolyte solutions are the best choice for mildly dehydrated children in affluent, non-cholera-endemic countries.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

Thank you for your interest in the BEEM Journal!

To read the rest of this article or to access the entire collection of BEEM Critical Appraisals, please purchase a subscription at the link below.

If you would like a pre-view, click here to view some sample articles

Premium Content Available Through Subscription

BEEM is a knowledge translation project which aims to extract the most recent, EM relevant, and valid evidence from the volumes of available medical research and deliver it to EM practitioners in an easily consumable format to help guide their clinical practice. This valuable distilled information provided by BEEM is available through BEEM's accredited CME courses or through our online journal.

A BEEM Journal Subscription will provide you with unlimited access to our entire collection of Critical Appraisals for 1 year.