Persistent Vomiting Among Children With Acute Gastroenteritis

Among children discharged from the emergency department (ED) with vomiting due to acute gastroenteritis, which patient characteristics are associated with persistent vomiting?In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, among 977 children, those aged 6 months to less than 2 years, those with a short duration of vomiting and/or diarrhea, and those with 10 episodes or more of vomiting during the 24 hours preceding ED presentation were statistically significantly more likely to have 3 or more episodes of postdischarge vomiting in a 24-hour period, as well as greater health care utilization.These findings suggest that young children and those early in their illness with significant vomiting are most likely to experience ongoing vomiting after ED discharge and to utilize health care resources.

Corresponding Author: Stephen B. Freedman, MDCM, MSc, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 28 Oki Dr NW, C4-634, Calgary, Alberta T3B 6A8, Canada (stephen.freedman@ahs.ca).

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