Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and bowel. The most common cause is a viral or bacterial infection.
The illness usually lasts for three to five days, and the two most common symptoms are diarrhoea and vomiting.
Read more about the symptoms of gastroenteritis.
What causes gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis can have a number of possible causes, including a norovirus infection or food poisoning. However, rotavirus is the leading cause in children.
A rotavirus is an infection of the stomach and bowel. It is spread when a child who is infected does not wash their hands properly after going to the toilet.
If the child leaves tiny samples of infected faeces on surfaces or utensils, they can be picked up by another child. Small droplets of infected faeces can also be carried in the air, which children can breathe in.
This section is about gastroenteritis in children. Read more about gastroenteritis in adults.
When to see your GP
In most cases, gastroenteritis does not need to be diagnosed because the illness usually clears up without treatment.
You should see your GP if:
- Your child has recently been abroad. They may have acquired a more serious type of infection, for example one caused by a parasite.
- Their diarrhoea symptoms do not improve after seven days.
- They have persistent vomiting without diarrhoea.
- They have symptoms that are not usually associated with gastroenteritis.
- There is blood or mucus in their stools.
- Your child has a weakened immune system due to a health condition, such as acute leukaemia, or as a side effect of a medical treatment, such as chemotherapy.
Read more about diagnosing gastroenteritis.
Treating gastroenteritis
Most cases of gastroenteritis in children are mild and usually pass within three to five days without the need for treatment.
However, young children, particularly those under two years of age, are at risk of dehydration, so it is very important that they drink plenty of fluids.
In severe cases of gastroenteritis, where there has been significant fluid loss, hospital treatment may be required so that fluid can be replaced intravenously (directly into a vein).
In England, it is estimated that only 1.5% of children with gastroenteritis will require treatment in hospital.
Read more about treating gastroenteritis.
Preventing gastroenteritis
As gastroenteritis can be very infectious, it is important to take steps to prevent it spreading from your child to other children. You should:
- Encourage your child to wash their hands properly after going to toilet and before eating.
- Clean the potty or toilet thoroughly using disinfectant after each episode of diarrhoea and vomiting, making sure that you also clean the handle and seat.
- Wash your hands regularly, particularly after changing a nappy or cleaning a potty.
- Don't share your child’s towels, flannels, cutlery or eating utensils with other members of your household.
- Don't allow your child to return to nursery or school until 48 hours have passed since their last episode of diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Don't allow your child to go swimming in a pool for the first two weeks after their last episode of diarrhoea. Even though they won't have symptoms, research has found that the rotavirus can spread to other children through pool water.
Read more about preventing gastroenteritis.
Who is affected?
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is very common in children. It is estimated that every child will have at least one rotavirus infection before the age of five. Most infections occur among children aged between three months and three years old.
The first rotavirus infection tends to be the most severe because the body builds up immunity (resistance) to the virus afterwards. This is why these types of infections are extremely rare in adults.
