Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Management of Gastroenteritis in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Background: Racial/ethnic disparities in the provision of emergency care for children have been documented across a number of clinical conditions. Gastroenteritis is a common diagnosis among children presenting to emergency departments (ED). There are limited data with respect to the differential management of gastroenteritis that may be related to a patient’s race/ethnicity. Objective: To measure racial/ethnic differences in the management of gastroenteritis with respect to: 1) diagnostic testing (radiology and laboratory evaluations); and 2) therapeutic interventions (intravenous fluids, ondansetron …