Information for the public

About this information

About this information

NICE guidelines provide advice on the care and support that should be offered to people who use health and care services.

NICE gives advice to doctors, nurses and other staff about how to look after people with different health conditions. This information is about the care that NICE says works best for children and young people who are in hospital and need intravenous fluids. Intravenous fluids are fluids that are given straight into a vein (often called 'IV' fluids or 'a drip'). Your healthcare team should know what NICE has said.

This information will tell you about what care NICE says you should expect and help you ask questions about it. It won't tell you lots about what it is like to have IV fluids. And it won't tell you about any health problems that mean you need IV fluids. Your healthcare team will explain all this, and answer any questions you have.

Who should read it

This information is for children and young people who are in hospital and who need to have IV fluids.

It's important that you and your parents or other carers know about the care you should have.

We've written this information with parents, carers and older children and young people (12–16) in mind, but the information applies to all children under 16 years who are in hospital and who need IV fluids.

Parents and carers: it's really important that you read this information too so you know about the treatment and care the child you care for should be having.

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