Is Viral Gastroenteritis A Serious Condition In Your Child?

Inflammation of the digestive tract is the common problem associated with gastroenteritis which you get at any point of your life.

Not only inflammation and irritation are the problems, but this condition can also cause abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

Dehydration is the most severe condition of gastroenteritis.

The most severe symptoms of gastroenteritis can be experienced by infants and those individuals with sixty years of age.

This condition is a combination of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. This infection affects from one person to another.

Kids with gastroenteritis:

The most effective way to protect your kid against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis is by using vaccines. Most of the children suffer from this condition by the age of five.

According to recent studies, this infection becomes a serious condition and it leads to severe diarrhea and vomiting in infants between the age of six and 24 months around the world.

Gastroenteritis is one of the common causes of hospitalization of young children in both developed and developing countries. Every year 2.4 million children under five years are admitted in hospitals with gastroenteritis. In some cases, this condition can also lead to death in some developing countries.

The condition of infantile gastroenteritis is commonly caused by Bacteria, Astrovirus, Calicivirus, adenovirus and Rotavirus. Rotavirus is the chief pathogen which causes gastroenteritis. The incidence of this type of condition is same in both developed and developing countries but death rate is more in developing countries due to improper treatments.

In order to get relief from rotavirus gastroenteritis, make sure that your child should receive rotavirus vaccine. Vaccination would be the best approach to wipe out the condition in your kids. Usually this condition occurs during October through April.

Risk factors associated with gastroenteritis:

Reduced personal hygiene and lack of sanitation increases the incidence of gastroenteritis. A negotiated immune system leaves you susceptible to this condition.

Individuals with AIDS are at a higher risk of developing the condition. The condition can rise from badly cooked food, eating the food that kept too long at the room temperature or some uncooked foods like shellfish.

Sometimes you or your child can also experience appendicitis along with gastroenteritis. Don’t think that all diarrhea or vomiting is gastroenteritis, other causes must also be considered while diagnosis.

Home care for gastroenteritis:

  • Drink oral rehydration fluids frequently. Starvation is generally considered and feed your children immediately after vomiting. Drink fluids like ginger ale, gelatin, and broth for the first 24 hours after appearing the symptoms.
  • Wash your hands to prevent the disease from spreading to others, particularly when preparing the food and after bowel movements.
  • Use probiotics as an addition to treatment therapy, but their role is uncertain.
  • Avoid eating large quantities at a time; instead eat something small and bland.
  • Lessen activity until vomiting and diarrhea settles down.

For successful reduction of gastroenteritis, you need to avoid food poisoning, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, viral infections, certain drugs, intestinal parasites, tobacco use, and consuming foods with which you have food allergies.