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WHAT  IS  GASTROENTERITIS?

 

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestine, and typically causes vomiting and diarrhea. It is a common condition in young children.

 

In developed countries, this infection is usually mild and curable, but in developing countries, especially where clean water is in short supply, gastroenteritis kills millions of young children each year.

 

• Some of the symptoms of gastroenteritis are vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, fever and headache. 
• Since most infections are viral, antibiotics are rarely prescribed. Drugs that stop diarrhoea are also avoided because they tend to prolong the time the bug stays in the gut. 
• This illness usually lasts between three to five days, during which time the child should be closely monitored and given plenty of fluids. 
• Sometimes symptoms can occur within hours of taking in germs but they usually take longer than this to manifest. 

Causes

 

If the membrane of the stomach and intestine become inflamed, your child cannot absorb nutrients and water from the food as it passes through. Gastroenteritis is caused by a 'bug' a virus, bacteria or parasite - and caught by eating infected food or from contact with an infected person.

 

Viruses: 60 per cent of all cases of gastroenteritis in the developed world are caused by the rotavirus, an organism that is especially virulent in the winter months.

 

Bacteria: the bacteria campylobacter jejunii is found in uncooked meat and can cause gastroenteritis if food is not cooked thoroughly. Salmonella, found in eggs, dairy products and undercooked poultry, can also be responsible for the infection.

 

Parasites: these bugs, for example giardia, can cause gastroenteritis and are often picked up when travelling abroad.

 

Symptoms

 

The symptoms of gastroenteritis are persistent vomiting and diarrhoea, but vary depending on the type of infection.

 

• Diarrhea is often watery, to the extent that it may be difficult to distinguish it from urine. In some types of gastroenteritis, the stools may contain blood and mucus. 
• Some children with gastroenteritis have a high temperature, which can cause a febrile convulsion (fit) in children under five. These convulsions are usually short lived and are easily avoided by taking steps to bring the temperature down. 
• Bacterial and viral infections can also cause abdominal (tummy) cramps and tenderness. 

When to call the doctor

Call the doctor if your child has been vomiting for more than 12 hours and is not getting better, or if your child won't drink and is dehydrated.

 

• Current medical advice is that you should continue to breast-feed or bottle-feed even though your child may be less hungry. 
• Your doctor can prescribe oral rehydration solutions to replace the lost fluid, and advise how often to give them. 
• If your baby has severe dehydration, or if he is unable to drink for a prolonged period, he will be admitted to hospital for treatment with nasogastric or intravenous fluids. 

Dehydration

 

A potentially serious effect of gastroenteritis is dehydration. It is important to be aware of the signs:

 

Dehydration can happen very quickly in babies and toddlers because they have a large surface area of skin in relation to their body weight. This means that they lose fluid through their skin quickly

 

Depending on the extent of dehydration, a baby will lose weight noticeably. The amount of urine he passes will decrease.

 

The skin becomes dry, as do the mouth and lips, and you may notice that your baby's eyes and his fontanelle (the soft area on the top of his head) appear sunken

 

Children with dehydration may feel hot to the touch. If the dehydration is quite severe, your child will become drowsy and floppy.

 

Dealing with dehydration

 

If your child has any of the symptoms of dehydration, it is important to seek medical advice. In most cases, the dehydration will be mild and you can start to resolve the problem by encouraging your child to drink.

 

• Frequent small sips (i.e. every five minutes) of any fluids will help to avoid serious complications. You may have to persevere - a child who feels nauseated and unwell may not be willing to drink. 
• There are oral rehydration solutions that can be bought at your chemist or prescribed by a doctor. Read the packet carefully to check whether they are suitable for your child. These solutions contain glucose and various salts ­exactly the substances that are lost in diarrhea. 

Constant diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration, so it is essential to keep up your child's fluid intake, even if she is nauseous and reluctant to drink

 

Stomach ache and sickness

 

There are several ways that you can make your child comfortable when he is suffering from gastroenteritis:

 

• The first priority is to keep up the fluid intake, preferably with plain water, rehydration salts or very dilute fruit juice. 
• Remember that your child will be feeling very unwell so comfort and cuddle him. 
• If his temperature starts to rise, remove heavy bed clothes, make sure the room is well ventilated and use a fan if you have one. If he is not being sick, you could give him a dose of junior paracetamol to help keep the fever down. 
• Constant diarrhoea may cause your child's bottom to be sore. Gently wash the area with warm water and apply barrier cream. 
• Do not worry if your child refuses to eat for several days, it will not harm him as long as he is drinking - it's essential that he stays hydrated. 
• Your child may continue to have diarrhoea for several days after the fever and the vomiting have improved. 

If your child is feverish and has a high temperature but is not vomiting, giving him a dose of junior paracetamol may help to reduce his fever.

 

It may not be clear how your child has contracted gastroenteritis, but bear in mind the following:

 

• Always thoroughly cook food, especially meat and make sure that you wash vegetables thoroughly, even if they are organic. 
• When travelling with small children, always drink bottled water and eat at 'tourist restaurants'. Try to avoid eating from market stalls and street vendors. 
• Try to make sure that your child does not come into contact with anyone who has gastroenteritis. 

To help prevent gastroenteritis, prepare and cook all food hygienically and thoroughly to limit bacteria.

 

For  More  Information:  Please  consult  your  physician  on  your  next  visit.