{
  "name": "Gastroenteritis",
  "slug": "gastroenteritis",
  "url": "https://nursingplex.com/care-plans/gastroenteritis",
  "category": "Gastrointestinal",
  "summary": "Infectious GI inflammation; rehydration, isolation precautions and diet advancement.",
  "nursing_diagnoses": [
    "Deficient fluid volume",
    "Diarrhea",
    "Risk for infection transmission"
  ],
  "overview": [
    "Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines, most often viral (norovirus, rotavirus) but also bacterial (Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Shigella) or parasitic. It presents with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and sometimes fever.",
    "Most cases are self-limiting over one to three days, and the clinical priority is not stopping the diarrhea but preventing dehydration and electrolyte loss. Children, older adults and immunocompromised patients decompensate quickly and account for most complications.",
    "Nursing care centers on rehydration, transmission prevention with contact precautions and rigorous hand hygiene, early return to normal diet, and recognition of the red flags that suggest a bacterial or surgical cause."
  ],
  "key_facts": [
    {
      "label": "Rehydration first",
      "text": "Oral rehydration solution in small frequent sips is first-line; IV fluids for severe dehydration or persistent vomiting."
    },
    {
      "label": "Norovirus",
      "text": "Extremely contagious via surfaces and vomitus; requires soap-and-water hand hygiene and bleach cleaning."
    },
    {
      "label": "Red flags",
      "text": "Bloody stool, high fever, severe localized pain or lethargy suggest bacterial infection or another diagnosis."
    },
    {
      "label": "Avoid",
      "text": "Sports drinks, juice and soda are too high in sugar and can worsen osmotic diarrhea in children."
    }
  ],
  "nursing_priorities": [
    "Assess and correct dehydration.",
    "Prevent transmission to others.",
    "Restore nutrition early.",
    "Protect perianal skin.",
    "Identify cases needing further investigation or antibiotics."
  ],
  "assessment": {
    "subjective": [
      "Reports of nausea, vomiting, watery stools and cramping",
      "History of sick contacts, restaurant meals, travel or untreated water",
      "Reports of thirst, weakness or dizziness",
      "Parental reports of fewer wet diapers or unusual sleepiness"
    ],
    "objective": [
      "Number and character of stools and emesis episodes",
      "Weight loss, tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, delayed capillary refill",
      "Dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes or fontanelle, poor skin turgor",
      "Reduced urine output with high specific gravity",
      "Electrolytes, bicarbonate and stool studies when indicated"
    ],
    "related_factors": [
      "Ingestion of contaminated food or water",
      "Person-to-person spread through the fecal–oral route",
      "Poor hand hygiene and crowded settings",
      "Immunosuppression or extremes of age"
    ]
  },
  "goals": [
    "The client will maintain adequate hydration with normal vital signs and urine output.",
    "The client will tolerate oral intake without vomiting.",
    "The client will show resolution of diarrhea within the expected timeframe.",
    "The household will describe measures to prevent spread."
  ],
  "interventions": [
    {
      "title": "Rehydrate",
      "points": [
        "Offer 5–10 mL of ORS every few minutes after vomiting, increasing as tolerated.",
        "Administer IV isotonic fluid for severe dehydration or persistent vomiting.",
        "Weigh daily and keep strict intake and output including stool and emesis volumes.",
        "Monitor electrolytes and correct potassium losses."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Prevent spread",
      "points": [
        "Institute contact precautions and dedicate equipment.",
        "Use soap and water rather than alcohol gel for norovirus and C. difficile.",
        "Clean surfaces with bleach-based products and handle soiled linen carefully.",
        "Teach the family to keep the ill person home until 48 hours after symptoms stop."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Nutrition and comfort",
      "points": [
        "Resume a normal age-appropriate diet as soon as vomiting stops; continue breastfeeding in infants.",
        "Avoid high-sugar drinks, very fatty foods, caffeine and alcohol.",
        "Give antiemetics as ordered; avoid antimotility drugs in bloody or febrile diarrhea.",
        "Provide perianal barrier cream and gentle cleansing."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "patient_teaching": [
    "Demonstrate how to prepare and give oral rehydration solution at home.",
    "Teach handwashing before food handling and after toileting or diaper changes.",
    "List dehydration warning signs: no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears, extreme drowsiness.",
    "Review food safety: cooking temperatures, refrigeration and washing produce."
  ]
}