Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children (A cross-sectional observational study)

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a significant pediatric health issue. This study evaluates adherence to clinical guidelines in the management of AGE in hospitalized children at Alhadba Alkhdra Teaching Hospital, Tripoli, Libya. A cross-sectional observational study of 150 children aged 6 months to 14 years admitted for AGE between January and October 2024. Data on clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were applied. The mean age was (35.3 months). Diarrhea (100%) and Vomiting (98.6%) were the most common symptoms. Mild dehydration was present in (77.3%). Intravenous fluids were administered to (99.3%), while (19.3%) received ORS before admission. Antibiotics were used in (39.3%), significantly associated with positive inflammatory markers (p 5 days) was linked to complications (p = 0.008) and longer symptom duration before admission (p = 0.004). Intravenous fluid use adhered to guidelines for moderate/severe dehydration, but Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) use was suboptimal. Antibiotic administration largely aligned with clinical indications. Early recognition and adherence to guidelines could reduce hospital stay and complications. Keywords: Acute gastroenteritis, Guideline adherence, Pediatrics, Hospitalization, Antibiotic stewardship¬.