gastroenteritis in children

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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

Last reviewed 01/2018

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gastroenteritis in children