Oral Rehydration: In Pediatrics, Less Is Often Better

Elsewhere in this issue of the ARCHIVES, Fonseca and colleagues¹ compare enteral vs parenteral rehydration for children with gastroenteritis. The results of their meta-analysis indicate not only that intravenous rehydration is no more efficacious than fluids given orally or via a nasogastric tube but that intravenous rehydration is associated with longer hospitalization and a 3-fold increase in major adverse events. The study and the major findings are worthy of comment on a number of levels.