Gastroenteritis in children

Gastroenteritis in children, as in adults is an infectious illness affecting the upper gastrointestinal tract - the stomach and, less often the small bowel

• gastroenteritis is very common, with many children having more than one episode a year

There is diarrhoea; there may be vomiting and there is usually a systemic component manifested by fever.

• infective gastroenteritis in young children is characterised by the sudden onset of diarrhoea, with or without vomiting
• majority of cases of gastroenteritis in children are due to an enteric virus (e.g. rotavirus) but some are caused by bacterial or protozoal infections
• gastroenteritis is an illness that usually resolves without treatment within days
  • however note that severe diarrhoea can quickly cause dehydration, which may be life threatening

Reference:

• 1. NICE (April 2009). Diarrhoea and vomiting in children