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: Gastroenteritis is Common in Children
DEAR DR.PAUL: My 18 month old baby was
recently diagnosed with gastroenteritis caused by Rotavirus. He
is fine now, should I be concerned about this infection? Will
it come back?
DR.PAUL ANSWERS: Many parents have shared
your experience, and fortunately this type of infection usually
goes away on its own. Gastroenteritis is an infection of the gastrointestinal
system; In other words, of the stomach and/or the intestines.
Sometimes it is referred to as the stomach flu or "gastro". The
symptoms usually include diarrhea and/or vomiting. One or the
other, or both at the same time. In some cases, there can be associated
fever, abdominal pain or cramps.
What causes gastroenteritis? In most cases it is caused by viruses
such as the Rotavirus which tends to infect younger children.
Some of the viruses cause symptoms of gastroenteritis only while
others can cause cold symptoms as well. Less commonly, several
different types of bacteria can also cause gastroenteritis. Importantly,
food poisoning is a form of gastroenteritis which can occur if
a child eats or drinks contaminated(spoiled) food water. This
is why in order to prevent food poisoning, it is important to
cook foods well and to make sure that they are properly refrigerated.
Regardless of the cause, the infection usually goes away in its
own as long as the child is drinking enough to keep from getting
dehydrated. However through experiences we have found that there
is a right way and a wrong way to achieve this. In the past most
children would be fed a very bland diet, and this for prolonged
periods. This approach actually made matters worse. We came to
recognize a condition called "Protracted Diarrhea of Childhood".
These children had diarrhea that simply would not go away and
needed to be admitted to hospital for weeks of intravenous therapy.
They started off with a simple diarrhea which would just seem
to get worse. We now understand that this protracted diarrhea
was due to the fact that these children were being given low calorie
diets. Because the intestinal lining did not get enough nutrition
it became damaged and started to a leak or secrete liquid into
the intestine causing large amounts of diarrhea. This is why we
presently recommend that aside form the appropriate oral rehydration
solutions, a resumption of a normal diet should start as soon
as possible.
What about vomiting? If a child has just vomited, parents should
wait for half an hour and then begin giving fluids starting with
one tablespoon. If the child keeps it down, five minutes later,
one and a half tablespoons is given and so on, progressively increasing
the amount each time. Should the child vomit again take a break
for about 30 minutes and start the cycle over again. If the child
cannot keep any fluids down, medical attention should be sought
as intravenous fluids may be necessary. Happily, most children
will be able to keep down enough fluids and the vomiting as well
as any other associated 'gastroenteritis" symptoms go away on
their own. |
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designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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