Is starting parenteral nutrition appropriate for treating mild dehydration due to diarrhea in an infant?

• A. Yes
• B. No, starting parenteral nutrition is not an appropriate treatment option
• C. Only if there is no response to oral rehydration within 24 hours
• D. Only after 48 hours

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that dehydration from diarrhea is managed by replacing fluids and electrolytes, not by delivering nutrition intravenously. Parenteral nutrition provides nutrients through a vein for when the gut cannot be used for feeding, such as in severe malnutrition or intestinal failure; it does not rapidly correct fluid and electrolyte deficits and carries risks like bloodstream infection and metabolic complications. For a mild dehydration in an infant, the appropriate approach is oral rehydration therapy (and continue feeding, with zinc as advised). If oral intake isn’t tolerated or dehydration is more severe, then IV rehydration with isotonic fluids is used—not parenteral nutrition. The time-based options to wait or switch to PN don’t apply here, since PN isn’t the correct tool for treating dehydration regardless of duration.