AGE Reading

Davao Medical School Foundation. Inc.
Medical School Drive, Bajada, Davao City

College of Nursing
In partial fulfillment of the requirements in

NCM 103 RLE
A reading on
Acute gastroenteritis
SUBMITTED TO:
Mrs. Ma. Elsie S.Callueng RN, MAN

Clinical Instructor
SUBMITTED BY:
Yasierah K.Agalin St.N
BSN 3 Student
DATE: October 10, 2016

The Truth About Stomach Flu
Its not really the flu, but gastroenteritis.
If your child suddenly has an attack of diarrhea and vomiting, and he complains of a
stomachache, you may think to yourself, "stomach flu."
No, not really.
What's often called "stomach flu" is gastroenteritis, an infection of the stomach and intestines.
The flu, or influenza, is different. It causes fevers, sore throats, runny noses, and general aches
and pains. It usually does not cause stomach problems.
Viral infections are the usual cause of gastroenteritis. Bacteria can sometimes bring it on.
The sickness usually passes in about 10 days without medication. The first few days tend to be
the worst, but you can take steps to help your child get through this tough time.
Treatment
Give lots of fluid. The biggest danger from gastroenteritis is dehydration. Your child's body loses
more fluids than it takes in. So, the most important thing you can do is keep your child hydrated,
says Andrew Nowalk, MD, PhD. He's an assistant professor of pediatrics at Children's Hospital
of Pittsburgh.
Not just any fluid will do. Water is good, but in some cases, it may not be enough. It won't
replace the important electrolytes (salt and minerals) your child's body loses when it's
dehydrated.
Drinks that do replace salt and minerals are called electrolyte solutions, or oral rehydration
solutions. You can buy them at your local drug store. They can even be bottle-fed to infants.
Some sports drinks promise to replace electrolytes as well. They have a lot of sugar, but are
okay for most school-age children and teenagers. They're not a good idea for very young
children, though, says Peggy Pelish, PhD. She's a pediatric nurse practitioner with the
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing.
Keep children away from milk. It can make stomach problems worse. If you're the parent of a
young baby, talk with your doctor about breastfeeding or formula.
Drinks that have a lot of acid (orange juice) or caffeine can also cause belly problems.
Too much of even the right kind of liquid can make vomiting worse, so take it slow at first. Try 1
teaspoon every 4 to 5 minutes, Nowalk says.
Introduce food slowly. Once your child can drink liquid and keep it down, you can start adding
food. But keep it bland. Try bread, potatoes, plain yogurt, crackers, rice, toast, and bananas
first. Once you know those are going down okay, you can try lean meat and cooked vegetables.
Don't give your sick child foods that are fried, spicy, fatty, or have a lot of acid. They can make
stomach problems worse.
Skip over-the-counter meds. With gastroenteritis, time really is the best medicine. Watching your
child suffer may tempt you to give him over-the-counter medicines. As hard as it is, don't do it.
Not only will most medications not help, they may even make it worse.
Ibuprofen can upset your child's stomach even more, and acetaminophen can cause liver
problems. Antibiotics don't help against viruses (although they do against bacteria). And anti-
diarrhea medicines can make the infection last longer. They can also be dangerous for very
young children.
There is one exception: If your child has a fever, you can give them acetaminophen or Ibuprofen
to bring it down. Other than that, stick with fluids and bland foods.
When to See Your Doctor
Most cases of gastroenteritis go away on their own. See the doctor if the vomiting and diarrhea
continues more than a few days, or if you notice any signs of dehydration like:
Not urinating
Dry mouth
Crying without tears
Fever over 102 F
Lack of energy
Crankiness
Soft spot on the top of the baby's head is sunken.
Blood or pus in stool, or dark tarry stool
Your child may need to get checked sooner if they have other conditions, such as diabetes, that
put them at higher risk for fluid loss.
Prevention Is the Best Medicine
Follow these easy steps.
Get your child vaccinated against rotavirus, which is the most common cause of
gastroenteritis.
Wash hands often with warm soap and water, especially when you use the bathroom,
change diapers, and before and after you handle food. "Good soap and water hand-
washing is probably our best protection," Nowalk says.
Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them. Cook meat all the way through. This
may prevent gastroenteritis caused by bacteria.
References: Amanda Gardner (2015) The Truth About Stomach Flu Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/children/features/the-truth-about-stomach-flu#2
REACTION:
This article discusses a common disease known by most of us as stomach flu which is acute
gastroenteritis or AGE, I found this article helpful to me in understanding more about this
condition, its symptoms, causes and course to treatment, the article gave a profound
explanation of many good interventions that can be done to treat this condition in children, I was
able to appreciate a lot about this condition after I had my duty and was assigned to a patient
who is diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.
As a student nurse, knowing more about the disease process of my patient can help me in
providing good care to my patient and watching out for any possible complications, and this will
help as well in the future when I encounter similar cases. Reading about the disease of my
patient supplemented the learning I have acquired from my duty exposure and my clinical
instructor and I can say that this experience helped me in acquiring great knowledge and skills
that I could not have mastered just by theoretical concepts. and at the same time, I could not
have improved my nursing skills if I did not have the knowledge which they are based upon, and
here comes the importance of reading articles and research papers to keep me updated to the
latest breakthrough and innovations in the health care world.
we healthcare givers should not stop learning or be satisfied to what we have right now because
everyday has something new in store for us and we encounter a lot of peculiar or unfamiliar
cases o the field. its rather a continuous process that extends until we become registered
nurses and beyond, with every new learning ,we move a step further in the breakthrough of
saving human lives.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS
Predisposing Precipitating
Factors Factors
Age Contaminated
Malnutrition food and water
Ingestion of fecally
contaminated food &
water
Direct invasion of the Endotoxins are

bowel wall released
Stimulation and
destruction of
mucosal lining of the Attempted defecation
bowel wall (Tenesmus)
Digestive &
absorptive
malfunction
Excessive gas Increase peristaltic Secretion of F&E in

formation Movement the intestinal lumen
GI Distention
Mild Diarrhea
(2-3 Stools)
Nausea & Vomiting

Fluids & Electrolytes
Imbalance
Increased protein in
the lumen
LI is overwhelmed &
unable to reabsorb
the lost fluid
Intense Diarrhea
(>10x) (Watery
Stool)
Serious Fluid
Volume Deficit
Hypovolemic Good prognosis

Shock
recovery
Death

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Davao Medical School Foundation. Inc.

Medical School Drive, Bajada, Davao City

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in

Mrs. Ma. Elsie S.Callueng RN, MAN

DATE: October 10, 2016

No, not really.

When to See Your Doctor

Prevention Is the Best Medicine

Follow these easy steps.

Direct invasion of the Endotoxins are

Excessive gas Increase peristaltic Secretion of F&E in

Nausea & Vomiting

Hypovolemic Good prognosis

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