Age and admission weight as predictors of mortality in gastro-enteritis.
The age and weight of 2,095 children admitted to the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital outpatient rehydration unit were analysed with regard to death as an outcome. Age was not a good predictor of death as an outcome. Weight, expressed as a percentage of expected weight for age, was a good predictor of death and should be utilised as an important inpatient admission criterion.