Child health information factsheet
Gastroenteritis
This is an infection caused by a virus or bacteria that leads to vomiting and or diarrhoea and may
cause dehydration.
Symptoms
Your child may have some or all of these signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis:
• Nausea (feeling sick)
• Vomiting (being sick)
• Diarrhoea (loose stool)
• A high temperature
• Tired and miserable
• Back and stomach pain.
There is a risk of dehydration, your child may have dark circles under their eyes and babies may have a
sunken fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of a baby’s head)
Tests
We may collect samples of your child’s stool (poo) and send them for testing. This is to find out which virus
or bacteria has caused the illness. The results take about 48 hours.
Treatment
As there is no specific treatment for gastroenteritis, we do not routinely give antibiotics for children with
diarrhoea and vomiting. We do not give medicine to stop diarrhoea either. The most important thing is to
make sure that your child takes enough fluid and does not become dehydrated.
If your baby is breast or bottle fed, encourage them to take their normal milk feeds.
Try to avoid fizzy drinks and fruit juices.
It is important that your child does not just drink water as this does not contain the sugars and salts that
they need. You can give them baby juice or squash but not sugar free varieties.
Offer your child a drink often and in small amounts, starting with a sip at a time. Don’t let your child drink too
much at once even if they are very thirsty and want to drink it all, as this is more likely to make them sick.
Any child that is being sick after most fluids may be given a special drink called dioralyte. This replaces salt
and sugars as well as fluids lost in diarrhoea and vomiting.
It needs to be made up with the correct amount of water (or squash) that it says on the packet. Your child
may need a lot of encouragement to drink it so ideas such as using rewards, getting them to drink through
a straw or from a syringe may be helpful.
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Child health information factsheet
Diarrhoea usually lasts for five to seven days but your child may continue to have loose stools for up to two
weeks. Vomiting usually lasts for one to two days and stops within three days.
When your child is no longer being sick you can gradually start them back on their normal baby milk or for
older children a light snack such as plain biscuits and toast.
If your child is unable to keep fluids down and is becoming dehydrated they may need to be admitted
onto the ward and given fluids by putting a naso gastric tube (small tube) down through the nose into the
stomach. The other way of giving fluids is directly into a vein through a cannula (a small plastic tube).
Preventing further problems
• Always wash your hands before and after touching your child. The risk of spreading the illness is higher
when changing nappies or taking your child to the toilet. Washing your hands will reduce the risk of
spreading the illness to yourself and other family members
• Make sure all bottles, teats, bowls and cutlery are washed thoroughly and sterilised if necessary
• Before preparing food wash your hands and make sure all work surfaces are clean
• Do not use food after its use by date. Make sure raw meat and fish are kept away from all other foods
and that all food is cooked thoroughly
• Do not share a towel with your child while they have diarrhoea and vomiting
• Your child should not go to school or nursery until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting
• Do not go swimming for two weeks.
After leaving hospital
Continue encouraging your child to drink enough fluids and gradually introduce food or milk.
Remember the loose stools may continue for up to two weeks.
See a doctor if your child stops taking fluids or if they are vomiting even if only taking small amounts.
Your child needs to be seen urgently if they are becoming dehydrated, their nappies are mostly
dry and they are becoming sleepier.
By law the hospital must inform the environmental health department if certain bacteria are found, like
salmonella and e-coIi. You may be contacted by an environmental health officer if the stool sample contains
certain bacteria or viruses. This is to help them find out how the infection started and if it is linked to a
particular food, shop or restaurant.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact
The paediatric assessment unit: 023 8079 4628
If you need a translation of this document,
an interpreter or a version in large print,
Braille or on audio tape, please telephone
023 8079 4688 for help.
V3 Revised Nov 2011 Review date Nov 2014 CHO.073.03
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