Transient hyperphosphatasemia following gastroenteritis: avoid over-investigation in otherwise healthy children

Key Points

• Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia is often self-limiting in children following gastroenteritis, and often resolves without intervention.
• In cases examined, alkaline phosphatase levels rose post-infection but returned to normal without treatment, emphasizing the condition's benign nature.
• Assessment of two cases illustrates how recognizing hyperphosphatasemia can prevent unnecessary medical investigations in otherwise healthy children.
• Awareness of this self-limiting condition can significantly reduce parental anxiety and healthcare costs resulting from over-investigation.

Abstract