WHAT IS GASTROENTERITIS?
It is an infection that affects the stomach and the intestines and causes vomiting and frequent bowel movements with soft stool (diarrhea). Sometimes it’s accompanied by fever (high temperature).
HOW IS GASTROENTERITIS TRANSMITTED?
Germs (most of the time viruses) which cause gastroenteritis can transmit easily from one person to another, especially if people do not thoroughly wash their hands after using the toilet or before meals preparation, use dirty water, or eat contaminated food.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF GASTROENTERITIS?
A child with gastroenteritis loses too much fluids and salts which may cause dehydration. Dehydration can be dangerous if the lost fluids are not compensated.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION?
Signs of dehydration include:
- Dry mouth and lips
- Sunken eyes with less, or no tears when crying
- Sleepiness and drowsiness
- Decreased urination (fewer wet diapers than average)
HOW CAN DEHYDRATION BE TREATED?
Dehydration can be treated by giving your child the oral rehydration solution (drink). This drink contains salt, sugar and water and is available in pharmacies.
- Start giving your child the rehydration drinks when he/she start getting diarrhea. It is very important to continue giving offering the drinks to the child to avoid loss of fluid and salts from the body. If the child refuses to take the drink in a cup, give it to him in a teaspoon or by a medication dropper or a syringe.
- Give your child 10 to 20 teaspoon of the drink if he is less than 2 years old. If the child is older, give him/her half a cup each time after vomiting or passing loose stool.
- If you (your) child is vomiting, give 3 small teaspoons of the drink every 5 to 10 minutes until the vomiting stops. You can provide the regular meals usually after that if he or she has no vomiting but in small quantities. If the child vomits while taking the drink, wait for 10 minutes, then try again.
- If you are breastfeeding your child, you should continue breastfeeding and provide him/her with a rehydration drink between meals.
- Medications such as antibiotics are not part of the treatment unless given under the supervision of a doctor.
- Do not give him any anti-diarrhea medications.
WHAT FOODS SHOULD AVOID WHEN THE CHILD HAS GASTROENTERITIS?
Do not give your child, undiluted fruit juice, carbonated drinks, chocolate, or sweets.
WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT THE DOCTOR?
- You have to see the doctor as soon as possible if:
- your child is less than 6 (six) months and has diarrhea and vomiting.
- If your child does not drink fluids due to continuous vomiting.
- If there are signs indicating dehydration
- If the child develops high temperature accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting.
- If there is blood in the stool.
