Gastroenteritis Symptoms in Children: Home Remedies and Prevention

Posted on December 2, 2008 by rachel in Childrens Health

What is Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is an infection of the digestive system. Food poisoning is also a form of gastro-enteritis. The course of the illness can vary depending on the bug that causes it.

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis

  • Abdominal pain
  • Minor epidemic (disease that spreads quickly among many people) of vomiting
  • Diarrhea occur from time to time.

What precautions can be taken in Gastroenteritis?

  • Avoid ice cubes. And drink and clean your teeth with bottled water only.
  • Avoid locally made ice creams, milk and milk shakes, salads, unpeeled fruit salad, rice and shell fish.
  • Wash your hands before eating.
  • Get immunized against and hepatitis A if you are going to risky areas.
  • Always carry sachets of re-hydration salts when you go on a holiday.

Home Remedies for Gastroenteritis

  • If diarrhea occurs when you return from a holiday, it is important to get your stools examined.
  • Babies are more at risk due to dehydration. So give them plenty of fluids.
  • All foods including cow’s milk and artificial milk formulas should be stopped during the initial stages of diarrhea. Give oral re-hydration and then later breastfeed. After twenty four hours when symptoms subside you can start normal diet gradually.
  • Paracetamol can be given in case of fever.
  • Anti-diarrhea mixtures contain chemicals which can cause drastic side effects on babies and small children.
    So avoid them. If prolongs over a long period then doctors may prescribe a safe preparation.
  • Poor hygiene can spread the disease easily. So wash your hands frequently.
  • Re-hydration powders are made with boiled and cooled water and are very helpful. They replace the salts lost during vomiting and diarrhea. Many children do not like the taste and so should be allowed to drink through a straw.

When to see the doctor in Gastroenteritis?

  • You are worried about dehydration and vomiting is persistent. Symptoms are dry mouth or tongue, nappies are dry, the baby’s soft spot on the head becomes sunken.
  • If the vomiting is becoming very forceful.
  • If the child looks exerted and is least interested in anything.
  • Bleeding in the bowel motion.

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