Gastroenteritis is an infection of the stomach and intestines. The most common symptoms of the condition are diarrhoea and vomiting.
Most cases of gastroenteritis in children are mild and normally pass within a few days without the need for medical treatment. However, children, particularly younger children (under the age of two) are at risk of dehydration, so it's important to ensure they drink plenty of fluids.
More severe cases of gastroenteritis and associated dehydration may require hospital treatment. However, it's estimated that only 1.5% of all childhood cases of gastroenteritis in the UK will require hospital treatment.
Gastroenteritis can have a number of causes, such as bacterial infection or food poisoning. The rotavirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in children.
What is a rotavirus?
A rotavirus is a virus that infects the stomach and intestine and is spread by infected people who don't wash their hands properly after going to the toilet. They may then leave tiny samples of infected faeces on surfaces or utensils, which can be passed on to your child. It is also possible for small droplets of infected faeces to be carried in the air, and for them to enter through the mouth or nose.
Rotavirus infections are extremely common in children. It's estimated that every child will have at least one rotavirus infection before the age of five, with most infections occurring among children aged between three months and three years old.
Rotavirus infections are more common during winter and spring months. The first infection tends to be the most severe because, afterwards, the body builds up immunity to the virus. This is why rotavirus infections are rare in adults.
In parts of the developing world, such as South America, Africa and Asia (with the exception of China), rotaviruses are one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of five. Half a million children worldwide die as a result of the virus every year.
However, due to better standards of healthcare, nutrition and access to clean water, deaths from rotavirus infections or other types of gastroenteritis are extremely rare in the UK. One study estimated that there are only three to four deaths from the rotavirus every year in England and Wales.
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is highly contagious
While most adults are immune to rotaviruses, they can be highly contagious among children. Even if your child has had a previous infection, it is possible that they have not yet built up full immunity. There are also different strains of the virus, which your child may not have immunity to.
Therefore, it is important to keep an infected child isolated from other children until 48 hours have passed after their last bout of diarrhoea and vomiting.
