【Major Points】

1. Viral gastroenteritis typically requires symptomatic treatment, and antibiotics are not usually needed. 
2. Please follow the doctor’s instructions to properly replenish water and electrolyte drinks, and avoid giving foods that are too oily or too sweet.
3. If your child is vomiting, turn their head to the side to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
4. Hand washing is the most important measure in preventing gastroenteritis.

 

What is gastroenteritis in child?

1. Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. When it occurs in infants and young children, it is referred to as infantile gastroenteritis.
2. It is most commonly caused by viruses, such as norovirus and rotavirus, but can also be triggered by bacterial or parasitic infections. The main causes of infection are consuming contaminated food or poor hygiene by caregivers, as well as contact with contaminated objects such as hands, tableware, or toys.

 

What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis in child?

1. Diarrhea:The main symptom of gastroenteritis is diarrhea.It means having more frequent or watery stools than usual, usually three times or more a day. The stool may be softer, greenish in color, have a bad smell, or sometimes contain mucus or small streaks of blood.
   
2. Fever .  (More information: Care of Fever)
3. Vomiting and Abdominal Pain  (More information: Care of  Patient with Adominal Pain)
4. Activity changes: The patient may show restlessness, fatigue, sleepiness, or agitation.
5. Dehydration:Signs of dehydration include dry lips and skin, absence of tears, decreased urine output, and dark-colored urine. Infants may have a sunken front fontanel or eyes.

If your child has any of the above symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that it is gastroenteritis, please go to a pediatric clinic.(for return visits)

 

How to treat gastroenteritis in child?

Acute gastroenteritis is commonly caused by a virus. Unless a specific bacterial infection is known, antibiotic is not required. Symptomatic treatment is usually offered, such as having electrolyte drinks to help infants replace water and electrolytes.

 

 How should I take care of gastroenteritis in child ?

1. Prevent the spread of pathogens: One of the most important things is hand washing. Both children and caregivers should wash hands with soap or hand sanitizer for at least 40-60 seconds, especially before eating, after changing diapers, or using the toilet. Make sure to clean your hands, including your fingers, nails and elbows.
2. Dietary for diarrhea
   1. Breast-milk feeding: Babies who are breast fed should continue to be breast fed after doctor’s evaluation. Breast milk contains large amount of antibodies from mother that can help baby recover from gastroenteritis. Baby is eager to feel calm down by breast-milk feeding.
   2. Formula-milk feeding: Formula-milk fed babies should be give lactose-free formula milk or diluted formula milk according to physician’s instruction.
   3. Baby food or General diet:
      1. Oral electrolyte solutions might be given to the children with gastroenteritis upon physician’s instructions. 
      2. When diarrhea improves, some light soft food, such as rice soup, white toast, steamed bread, or rice can be taken. Avoid greasy food, beans, dairy products, and high sugar food (juice, soda, snack etc.) so that the gastrointestinal tract can take its proper rest.
      3. Under physician’s instructions, probiotics can be given to children who have normal immune functions.
      4. If diarrhea does not improve, then it is recommended to go to an emergency room or pediatric clinic.
3. During diarrhea, stools may become more acidic and can irritate the skin. Without proper care, redness or diaper rash may develop. Therefore, it is important to keep the buttock area clean, dry, and well protected.
   1. Chang diapers often, clean skin around the anus with warm water and gently wipe it dry with a soft cotton towel. Leave the diaper open for a while to expose skin of bottom and perineum to allow the skin dry.
   2. If there is not reddish or damaged on the buttocks, vaseline cream can be applied around anus to isolate irritates from feces.
   3. In case of a diaper rash on the buttocks, apply ointment by the physician’s instructions.
4. How to manage children’s vomiting
   1. When the child vomits, keep the child’s upper body leaning forward and maintain the head in a lower position or the face facing the side. The vomit should be cleaned up immediately so as to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
   2. After vomiting, skin and oral care should be careful. To proper cleaning especially of the face, ear back and neck skin folds. Keep skin dry to prevent eczema happens.
   3. In cases of acute vomiting, the child has to fast 2-4 hours by doctor’s instruction. Drink a small amount of water while vomiting improved. Start your diet pattern gradually. 

References:

1. Lifschitz, C., Kozhevnikov, O., Oesterling, C., Anbar, A., & Walker, S. (2023). Acute gastroenteritis—changes to the recommended original oral rehydrating salts: a review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 11, 1294490. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2023.1294490
2. Mora-Capín, A., López-López, R., Guibert-Zafra, B., La Calle, M. D. C. V., Porto-Abad, R., Molina-Cabañero, J. C., ... & García-Herrero, M. Á. (2022). Recommendation document on rapid intravenous rehydration in acute gastroenteritis. Anales de Pediatría (English Edition), 96(6), 523-535.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anpede.2021.04.011
3. Yalcin,G,. Demirbas,, F., Bacalan,F., & Toy.E.B. (2022). Evaluation of treatment in AGE: A comparative study. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 72(10), 2019–2024.https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/4438