小兒腸胃炎-Gastroenteritis in Children

What is gastroenteritis and what causes it?

Gastroenteritis is an infection of the guts (intestines). The severity can range from a mild tummy upset for a day or two with some mild diarrhoea, to severe diarrhoea and vomiting for several days or longer. Many viruses, bacteria, and other microbes (germs) can cause gastroenteritis.

• A virus is a common cause in the UK. Sometimes it is just 'one of those germs going about'. Viruses are easily spread from one person to another by close contact, or when an infected person prepares food for others. Infection with a virus called rotavirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children in the UK. Almost every child in the UK will have a rotavirus infection before they are five years old.
• Food poisoning (infected food) causes some cases of gastroenteritis. Many different types of germs can cause food poisoning. Common examples are bacteria called campylobacter and salmonella.
• Water contaminated by bacteria or other germs is a common cause of gastroenteritis, particularly in countries with poor sanitation.

What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?

 

• The main symptom is diarrhoea, often with vomiting as well.
• Crampy pains in the abdomen (tummy) are common. Pains may ease for a while each time some diarrhoea is passed.
• High temperatures (fever) and headaches are common.

 

If vomiting occurs, it usually lasts only a day or so. Diarrhoea often lasts for several days or more and often continues after the vomiting stops. Loose stools (loose faeces) can persist for a week or so before a normal pattern returns. Sometimes the symptoms last longer.

Can gastroenteritis be prevented?

Proper storage, preparation and cooking of food, and good hygiene helps to prevent gastroenteritis. In particular, always wash your hands, and teach children to wash theirs:

 

• After going to the toilet (and after changing nappies).
• Before touching food. And also, between handling raw meat and food ready to be eaten. (There may be some bacteria on raw meat.)
• After gardening.
• After playing with pets (healthy animals can carry certain harmful bacteria).

 

If a child has gastroenteritis, the following are also recommended until symptoms go.

 

• Regularly clean the toilets they use. Also, wipe the flush handle and toilet seat with disinfectant (such as household bleach) after each time they use the toilet.
• Make sure they wash their hands after going to the toilet. Don't share towels and flannels.
• Do not let them help to prepare food for others.
• They should stay off school, nursery, etc, until free of diarrhoea and vomiting for 48 hours.

 

What is the treatment for gastroenteritis in children?

Symptoms often settle within a few days or so as the immune system usually clears the infection. The following are commonly advised until symptoms ease.

Fluids - give the child lots to drink
The aim is to prevent dehydration (low body fluid), or to treat dehydration if it has developed. If the child is dehydrated then a doctor will advise on how much fluid to give. To prevent dehydration, the child should be drinking at least what they would normally drink through the day. And, in addition, as a guide, give the following after each loose stool (each time they pass some diarrhoea) to replace the fluid lost by the diarrhoea:

 

• Children under two: 50-100 ml (a quarter to half a large cup) of fluid.
• Children aged 2-10 years: 100-200 ml (a half to one large cup) of fluid.
• Older children: as much fluid as they want, but at least 200 ml.
• If the child vomits, wait 5-10 minutes and then start giving drinks again, but more slowly (for example, a spoonful every 2-3 minutes). However, the total amount should still be as above.

 

Rehydration drinks are the ideal drinks to give. They are made from sachets that you can get from pharmacies. (The sachets are also available on prescription.) You add the contents of the sachet to water. Rehydration drinks provide a perfect balance of water, salts, and sugar. They are better than just drinking water alone. The small amount of sugar and salt helps the water to be absorbed better from the gut into the body. They do not stop or reduce diarrhoea, but are the best drinks to prevent or treat dehydration.

 

Do not use home made salt/sugar drinks as the quantity of salt and sugar has to be exact. If rehydration drinks are not available, then give water as the main drink. Also, give some diluted fruit juice now and then as this contains a little bit of sugar. It is best not to give drinks that contain a lot of sugar such as cola, pop or undiluted juice. Ice lollies are a useful extra source of fluid if a child is reluctant to drink.醫(yī)學(xué)全.在線提供

The child should eat as normally as possible
Do not 'starve' a child with gastroenteritis. This used to be advised but is now known to be wrong.

 

• Breast fed babies should continue to breast feed if they will take it. This is in addition to extra rehydration drinks (described above).
• Bottle fed babies should be fed with their normal full strength feeds if they will take it. Again, this is in addition to extra rehydration drinks (described above).
• Older children - offer some food every now and then. However, if he or she does not want to eat, that is fine. Drinks are the most important and food can wait until the appetite returns.

 

Medication is not usually needed
You should not give drugs to stop diarrhoea to children under 12 years old. They sound attractive remedies, but are unsafe to give to children due to possible serious complications. However, you can give paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease a high temperature or headache.

If symptoms are severe, or persist, a doctor may ask for a sample of the diarrhoea. This is sent to the lab to look for infecting germs (bacteria, parasites, etc). Sometimes an antibiotic or other treatments are needed, depending on the cause of the infection.

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