Gastroenteritis in children

About gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis (or gastro) is a bowel infection that causes diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting. Diarrhoea is runny, watery bowel motions.

Vomiting may settle quickly, but diarrhoea may last up to 10 days. Bouts of gastro can cause dehydration, which can be dangerous for very young babies.

Causes of gastroenteritis in children

Gastroenteritis is caused by different things – including viruses, bacteria, bacterial toxins, parasites, particular chemicals and some drugs.

If your child gets gastro more than once the cause may be different each time.

Infectious gastroenteritis in children

Gastroenteritis can spread quickly. Infectious gastroenteritis is caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites. It is usually ingested through food or drink. Some of the common types of infectious gastroenteritis include:

• Escherichia coli infection
• Campylobacter infection
• Cryptosporidium infection
• Giardiasis
• Salmonellosis
• Shigellosis
• Viral gastroenteritis.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis

Children may not have all symptoms, but in general, gastroenteritis symptoms can include:

• loss of appetite
• bloating
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal cramps
• abdominal pain
• diarrhoea
• bloody stools (poo) – in some cases
• pus in stools – in some cases
• generally feeling unwell – including lethargy and body aches.

Children with gastroenteritis must keep drinking

If your child has gastroenteritis, make sure they drink clear fluids (or breastmilk if your baby is breastfeeding).

Babies under 6 months old can become ill quickly with gastro – they need extra fluids to replace fluids lost by diarrhoea and vomiting.

If you are breastfeeding, continue to do this. If bottle feeding, give clear fluids for the first 12 hours, then give the normal formula in smaller, more frequent amounts.

It is important for the fluids to be taken even if the diarrhoea seems to get worse. It will help if you:

• Offer babies a drink every time they vomit.
• Give older children a drink (150–200ml) after every big vomit or bout of diarrhoea.
• Give small amounts of fluids often if your child is vomiting a lot (a mouthful every 15 minutes).

Go to the doctor if your child is very sick

Take your child to the doctor if they:

• vomit often
• are not drinking
• show any signs of dehydration
• have blood in their bowel motion (poo)
• have significant abdominal pain.

Babies under 6 months who have gastroenteritis may need extra visits to the doctor – they need to be checked again after 6 to 12 hours. Your doctor can advise what other steps to take.

Do not give medicines to reduce the vomiting or diarrhoea.

Watch for signs of dehydration

Go to your doctor if you notice that your child:

• has a dry mouth and tongue
• is not passing urine (dry nappies)
• has sunken eyes
• has cold hands and feet
• is more sleepy than usual.

How to prevent dehydration in children with gastroenteritis

To prevent your child becoming dehydrated give clear fluids like:

• water
• oral rehydration products available from a pharmacist – follow instructions to make it up
• diluted fruit juice (natural) – 1 tablespoon of juice to 4 tablespoons of water.

Children with gastroenteritis can eat their usual foods

Your child may refuse food at first. This is not a problem as long as they drink clear fluids.

Doctors now suggest there is no need to restrict food if your child has gastroenteritis. Generally, if your child is hungry at any time, give them the food they normally eat.

How to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis

Good old-fashioned handwashing with soap and water is still the best defence against spreading gastroenteritis.

You can prevent the spread of gastroenteritis to other people if you:

• Make sure everyone in the family washes their hands regularly, especially after they use the toilet and before they eat.
• Wash your child’s hands with warm water and soap after they use the toilet and before and after they eat.
• Wash your hands before you feed and after you change your child’s nappies.
• Clean kitchen tops, toys, toilet seats, nappy change tables and taps to ensure you don’t spread the infection to others at home.
• Keep your child away from others until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped. If symptoms persist, visit your GP.
• Don't allow your child to attend child care or school until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped.
• Teach your child good hand hygiene by showing them how to become a Soapy Hero!

Remember, washing hands with soap and water is the best way to prevent gastroenteritis infection. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers while effective against some viruses (such as coronavirus), are not effective against gastroenteritis.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Maternal and child health nurse
• Maternal and Child Health Line Tel. 13 22 29
• Your local council health department
• Local school nurse

Need treatment today?

Need treatment today, but it's not life-threatening and you can't get a GP appointment, there are services available:

• Urgent Care Clinics – provide care for conditions that require treatment today but not an emergency response (extended hours)
• Nurse-on-Call Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)

Emergency care

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• Emergency department of your nearest hospital

More information

• Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Department of Health, Victorian Government Tel. 1300 651 160