Gastroenteritis In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Gastroenteritis (gas-troh-en-te-REYE-tis) is also called the "stomach flu". It is an infection of the stomach and bowel (intestines). The bowel is the tube that runs from the stomach to the anus. The anus is the opening where your child has bowel movements (BMs). Your child may have stomach cramps or pain, diarrhea (loose BMs), nausea (upset stomach), and vomiting (throwing up). He may have a fever, feel weak, and not feel like eating. Diarrhea and vomiting can cause your child to become dehydrated. Dehydration is when your child loses a lot of water and salts from his body. Dehydration can cause serious medical problems.
  
  
• Gastroenteritis may be caused by germs such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Your child may have picked up these germs from infected food or water. He may also have caught the stomach flu from others. Eating plants or infected seafood may also cause this illness. Your child's blood or BM may need to be tested for germs or parasites. Gastroenteritis usually lasts for 2 to 5 days.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

RISKS:

Without treatment, your child could lose too much water and salt from his body. This is called dehydration (dee-heye-DRAY-shen). Dehydration is a very serious problem for infants and small children. Call your child's caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your child's illness, medicine, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

• Informed consent: You have the right to understand your child's health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your child's condition. Your child's caregiver should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives your child's caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to your child. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen to your child.
  
  
• Activity: Your child's caregiver will tell you when it is OK for your child to get out of bed. Call the caregiver before getting your child up for the first time.
  
  
• Emotional support: Most of the time, you may stay with your child while he is in the hospital. Your child will feel safer in the hospital with you or a loved one close by. Ask caregivers if another family member can stay with your child when you cannot be there. Bring in something from home that your child likes, such as a blanket, a favorite toy, or clothing.
  
  
• Handwashing: Family and visitors should wash their hands with soap and warm water before and after holding your child. This will help prevent the spread of infection. Everyone should wash their hands before eating or handling food and after going to the bathroom.
  
  
• Tests: Your child may need one or more of the following tests to help caregivers plan his treatment:
  
  
  • Vital signs: This includes taking your child's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting his heartbeat), and respirations (counting his breaths). To take your child's blood pressure, a cuff is put on his arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your child's blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your child's heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your child's vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how he is doing.
    
    
  • Daily weight: Your child may be weighed at about the same time every day. Caregivers will compare his weight from day to day. This helps caregivers see how much body fluid your child has lost or gained.
    
    
  • Intake and output (I&O):
    
    
    • Caregivers will write down how much liquid your child is getting, and fluid he is losing. Caregivers may also want to know how much your child eats and if he is vomiting or having bowel movements.
      
      
    • You may need to save your child's diapers so a caregiver can weigh them. Your child may need to urinate into a container in bed, or in the toilet. A caregiver will measure the amount of urine and bowel movements. Do not throw away diapers or flush urine or bowel movements down the toilet before asking your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Treatment options: Your child may be given one or more of the following treatments:
  
  
  • Isolation: Your child will be given a private room to help keep his germs from spreading to others. Your child may be in isolation if he has an infection or disease that can be given to others. Caregivers and visitors may need to wear gloves, a face mask, or a gown. This may scare your child.
    
    
  • IV: An IV is a tube placed in your child's vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube will be capped or connected to tubing and liquid. This liquid will help treat and prevent dehydration.
    
    
  • Medicines that may be given by your childs caregiver:
    
    
    • Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help your child fight an infection caused by a germ called bacteria.
      
      
    • Anti-parasitic medicine: This medicine may be given to kill germs called parasites.
      
      
    • Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your child's stomach and control vomiting (throwing up).
      
      
    • Antidiarrheal medicine: This medicine is given to decrease the amount of diarrhea your child is having. Some of these medicines coat the intestine (bowel) and make the BM less watery. Other antidiarrheal medicine works by slowing down how fast the intestine is moving.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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