Gastroenteritis In Children

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? 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 bowel movements (BMs) come out. Gastroenteritis usually lasts for 2 to 5 days.

What are common causes of gastroenteritis? When your child has gastroenteritis, a germ irritates and infects the lining of his stomach or bowel. Gastroenteritis may be caused by germs such as a viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Some common causes of gastroenteritis are as follows:

• Drinking water that is not clean.
  
  
• Food poisoning (eating food that has germs in it).
  
  
• Eating food that was prepared by someone who did not wash their hands after going to the bathroom, or diapering a baby.
  
  
• Having close contact with an infected person. This includes kissing, eating or drinking from the same dishes, or sharing utensils such as forks and spoons.

What are the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis?

• Abdominal (belly) cramps or pain.
  
  
• Acting tired, weak, and fussy.
  
  
• Dehydration. Dehydration may occur if your child loses too much water and salts from his body. Your child may become dehydrated if he has a fever, diarrhea, or is vomiting a lot.
  
  
• Diarrhea (loose, watery bowel movements).
  
  
• Headaches or muscle aches.
  
  
• High body temperature (fever).
  
  
• Nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Not wanting to eat.

What signs and symptoms do children have when they are dehydrated? The first signs and symptoms of dehydration for a baby are the following:

• Wetting five or fewer diapers during a 24 hour time period.
  
  
• Has a dry mouth and cracked lips.
  
  
• Cries with few or no tears.

• Acting sleepier, weaker, or fussier than usual.
  
  
• Eyes that look sunken, and the soft spot on the top of the baby's head looks sunken.
  
  
• Wrinkled skin, and pale (white) hands and feet.

• Having a dry mouth and cracked lips.
  
  
• Crying without tears.
  
  
• Being dizzy.
  
  
• Acting sleepier, fussier, and weaker than normal.
  
  
• Being very thirsty.
  
  
• Urinating less than usual.

How is gastroenteritis diagnosed? Your child's caregiver will ask you and your child questions and will examine your child. Caregivers may draw blood or take some of your child's bowel movements to test. These tests can help the caregiver learn which type of germ is causing your childs gastroenteritis.

How is gastroenteritis treated? Fluid replacement is very important. Replacing body fluids helps prevent and treat dehydration

• Feed your child liquids and solids according to his condition.
  
  
  • The best way to prevent dehydration is to give your child plenty of fluids, even if he is still occasionally vomiting. Ask your child's caregiver if you should give your child oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to drink. An ORS has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar your child needs to replace body fluids. This may help prevent dehydration. Many brands are available at grocery stores. Ask your child's caregiver which brand you should buy.
    
    
  • Give your baby 1 to 2 teaspoons of ORS every five minutes. Older children can begin with small sips of ORS often. Use a spoon, syringe, cup, or bottle to feed ORS to your child. If your child does not vomit the ORS, slowly give your child more ORS. Encourage, but do not force your child to drink.
    
    
  • Continue giving your baby formula or breast milk during the illness, or follow his caregiver's instructions.
    
    
  • If your child has small amounts of diarrhea but feels OK, offer him his usual foods. If your child is vomiting or has a lot of diarrhea, he can start eating foods when he is ready. Slowly begin to serve him regular foods and continue giving him ORS also.
  
  
• Give your child medicine if he needs it. Your child may need to use antibiotic medicine, or medicine to kill parasites, which may have caused his gastroenteritis. Diarrhea medicine should not be given to children under two years old. Do not give diarrhea medicine to your child unless his caregiver tells you to.
  
  
• Wash your hands, and your child's hands often with soap and warm water. Handwashing may help you and your child prevent spreading gastroenteritis germs to others. Always wash your hands after changing diapers and before fixing food. Your child and all family members should always wash their hands before touching food and eating. Everyone should always wash their hands after going to the bathroom.

Call your child's caregiver if:

• Your child will not drink the rehydration fluid (ORS) as ordered by his caregiver.
  
  
• Your child keeps vomiting up the ORS.
  
  
• Your child's diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours.
  
  
• You have any questions or concerns about feeding or caring for your child while he is sick.
  
  
• Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).

Seek care immediately if:

• You see blood in your child's diarrhea or in his vomit.
  
  
• Your child is not drinking enough fluids and has signs of dehydration.
  
  
• Your child has not urinated in eight hours.

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.

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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