It’s winter and the rotavirus is back, causing diarrhoea and vomiting in children – this is called gastroenteritis.
Viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis and the rotavirus is the most common viral cause, but since the introduction of a vaccine, given from the age of six weeks, the incidence is now significantly reduced.
Other viruses also cause gastroenteritis and some bacteria also cause gastroenteritis – this is commonly known as food poisoning.
Why is gastroenteritis dangerous?
It is one of the leading causes of infant mortality in the third world. Vomiting and diarrhoea lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. If untreated, the child goes into hypovolemic shock.
Treatment
The most effective treatment is fluid replacement. Parents must stop all milk and solids and concentrate on fluid replacement therapy. Oral rehydration therapy is easily undertaken – sachets are available over the counter and parents must stock up on these.
Homemade rehydration fluids recipe:
Mix together one litre of boiled, cooled water, eight teaspoons of sugar and one teaspoon of salt. The child needs to drink at least 100ml per vomit/diarrhoea. No antibiotics are required, except in very specific conditions.
What are the signs of dehydration?
• Sunken eyes
• Dry tongue
• Loss of tissue turgor (or elasticity) assessed over the abdominal wall (decreased skin turgor causes the pinched-up skin to remain elevated and only slowly return to its flat position)
• Weight loss
• Not passing urine
A dehydrated child needs intravenous fluid URGENTLY. Continue oral rehydration therapy and introduce milk gradually and later, a soft diet. Some children may relapse, in which case you must start oral rehydration again. Parents must be patient, nurse the child with fluid support and do not rush to solid food. Once the stools return to normal and vomiting settles, only then can the child return to a normal diet and gain weight.
All children will get gastroenteritis at some point, sometimes several times. The sooner parents learn to use oral rehydration therapy, the less the chances of dehydration. Children are small and dehydrate easily, especially with refusal to drink sufficient rehydration fluids, persistent vomiting and profuse watery stools. Seek medical help early.
Source: Dr Moethilalh