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Viral Gastroenteritis in Children

What are some of the symptoms of viral gastroenteritis? We tell you what signs of viral gastroenteritis to look out for.

Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis

Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection caused by several different viruses. The most common way of developing the infection — also referred to as a stomach flu — is through contact with an infected person’s fluids or by consuming contaminated food or water.

Symptoms of Viral Gastroenteritis

Viral gastroenteritis may be referred to as stomach flu, but it is distinctly different from influenza. Influenza usually affects only your respiratory system but gastroenteritis attacks your digestive system in areas such as your intestines.

Some common symptoms include:

• Watery diarrhoea

• Abdominal cramps

• Nausea

• Low-grade fever

• Muscle aches

• Headaches

Treatments for Viral Gastroenteritis

There is no effective treatment for viral gastroenteritis, but here are some ways to treat its symptoms in children.

For Bottle-fed Infants (Below the Age of One)

• Offer oral rehydration solutions (ORS) for eight hours

• Offer half-strength formula if he or she vomits once

• Offer ORS if he or she vomits two or more times

• Give small amounts of half-strength formula or ORS (one teaspoon) every 10 minutes

• After four hours without vomiting, increase the amount of ORS or half-strength formula

• After eight hours without vomiting, return to formula feeding

• For infants over four months old, you may revert to feeding them cereal or strained bananas

• You may feed your infant a normal diet in 24 to 48 hours if his or her condition lets up

For Breastfed Infants

• Reduce the amount of milk per feeding

• Provide breast milk in smaller amounts. Your goal is to avoid filling your baby’s stomach

• If your baby vomits twice, nurse on only one side every one to two hours

• If your baby vomits more than twice, nurse him or her for just four to five minutes every 30 to 60 minutes

• After eight hours without vomiting, you may return to regular breastfeeding

For Older Children (Over One Year Old)

• Offer clear fluids in small amounts for eight hours

• Water or ice chips are best for children who are vomiting but have no diarrhoea because water is directly absorbed across the stomach wall

• Isotonic solutions and popsicles are recommended. However, stir until the fizz is gone from both food types because the presence of bubbles can inflate the stomach

• Give small amounts (one tablespoon) of solutions or popsicles every 10 minutes

• After four hours without vomiting, increase the amount

• For children with severe vomiting, it is recommended that they rest their stomachs completely for one hour before starting over with smaller amounts of solutions or recommended food types

• Add bland foods to your child’s diet after eight hours without vomiting

• Stick to bland, starchy foods (or any complex carbohydrates) for 24 hours

• Start with saline crackers, white bread, rice and mashed potatoes

• A normal diet is okay in 24 to 48 hours

It is recommended that you discontinue all medications for eight hours. Oral medications can irritate the stomach and exacerbate vomiting. If your child has a fever, you may try paracetamol suppositories.