Inflammation of the stomach and intestine is a common condition in which the stomach and intestine are inflamed. It is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection.

The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are diarrhea and vomiting, and usually disappear within five to seven days.

What causes gastroenteritis?

The most common cause of gastroenteritis in children is a virus called the rotavirus. This virus comes out with feces (faeces) of the infected person. It may pass to food, objects and surfaces if the affected person does not wash his hands after going to the toilet.

The infection usually passes to another person when eating contaminated food, touching an infected object or surface, and then touching the mouth.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to this infection because they often forget to wash their hands after going to the toilet or before eating, and they have not yet had resistance to rotavirus.

It is estimated that almost all children will catch rotavirus infection at least once before the age of five, and that many children will have several seizures per year. Most infections occur among children before the age of four.

Inflammation of the stomach and intestine can also have a number of other causes, including norovirus infection or food poisoning, although it is more common in adults. Read more about gastroenteritis in adults.

When to see your doctor

In most cases, gastroenteritis does not need to be diagnosed, as the disease usually disappears without treatment.

But see your doctor if your child:

• Show signs of dehydration, or have an increased risk of dehydration

• It has additional symptoms of a more serious illness

• Vomits for more than three days or has diarrhea for more than a week

• Has blood or mucus in his stools

He was recently outside the country

• Has a weakened immune system caused by an underlying health condition, such as severe leukemia, or as a side effect of medical treatment, such as chemotherapy

If your doctor is not present, contact the local service outside of office hours or hospital for advice.

Treating gastroenteritis

Most cases of gastroenteritis in children are moderate and end within five to seven days without any specific treatment.

But young children - especially those under the age of one year - are at risk of dehydration, so it is very important that they drink plenty of fluids. Oral rehydration solutions may be recommended in some cases.

In severe cases where significant fluid loss is required, hospital treatment may be required so that these fluids can be replaced by inserting a tube into the nose (nasogastric tube) or directly into a vein (intravenously). But this is only required in very rare cases.

Prevention of gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestine is easily spread, so it is important to take steps to prevent its transmission from your child to other children by:

• Encourage your child to wash their hands properly after going to the toilet and before eating

• Clean the urinal or toilet thoroughly with a disinfectant after every bout of diarrhea and vomiting, and ensure that the toilet seat and handle are cleaned

• Wash hands regularly, especially after changing a nappy or cleaning a urinal

• Never share your child's towels, flannel, cutlery, or dinnerware with other household members

• Do not allow your child to return to kindergarten or school at least 48 hours before the last bout of diarrhea or vomiting

A rotavirus vaccination is included in the routine vaccination schedule for children from two months to three months old, which can help reduce your child's risk of developing gastroenteritis