Gastroenteritis in children and babies

When to get medical advice for your child

You don’t usually need to see your GP if you think your child has gastroenteritis. It should get better on its own and taking them to a GP practice can put others at risk.

Phone 999 or go to A&E if:

Your child:

• vomits blood or has vomit that looks like ground coffee
• has yellow-green or green vomit
• may have swallowed something poisonous
• has a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
• has a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
• has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
• is having severe difficulty breathing, or taking lots of quick, short breaths
• is difficult to wake up, confused or not responding as usual
• is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C (101°F) or above and has not had a vaccination in the past 2 days
• is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 36°C (97°F) or less and has not had a vaccination in the past 2 days

Phone 111 or your GP practice if:

You’re concerned about your child, or they:

• have symptoms of dehydration, like passing less urine than normal, being unusually irritable or unresponsive, pale or mottled skin, or cold hands and feet
• have blood in their poo
• are vomiting constantly and are unable to keep down any fluids or feeds
• have had diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
• are breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
• are over 3 months and have a temperature of 39°C (102°F) or above
• have a temperature less than 36°C (97°F)
• have a serious underlying condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease or a weak immune system, and have diarrhoea and vomiting

Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of your child’s poo to a laboratory to confirm what’s causing their symptoms. Antibiotics may be prescribed if this shows they have a bacterial infection.

Looking after a child with gastroenteritis

You can look after your child at home if they have diarrhoea and vomiting. There’s not usually any specific treatment and your child should start feeling better in a few days.

You don’t normally need to get medical advice unless their symptoms don’t improve or there’s a risk of a more serious problem.

There are things you can do to help ease your child’s symptoms.

Do

• encourage children to take small sips of diluting juice (full sugar) to prevent dehydration
• feed babies as usual, either with breast milk or other milk feeds
• make sure your child gets plenty of rest
• let your child eat if they’re eating solids and feel hungry – try small amounts of plain foods, like soup, rice, pasta and bread
• give them paracetamol for fever or aches and pains – young children may find liquid paracetamol easier to swallow than tablets
• use special rehydration drinks from a pharmacy if they’re dehydrated – your pharmacist can advise on how much to give your child
• stay off school or nursery until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have passed – avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time too
• ensure your child washes their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food
• disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated – it’s best to use a bleach-based household cleaner
• wash contaminated items of clothing or bedding separately on a hot wash
• flush away any poo or vomit in the toilet or potty and clean the surrounding area
• make sure food is properly refrigerated
• always cook your food thoroughly

Don’t

• do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength
• do not give children fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse
• do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
• do not give aspirin to children under 16

Don’t give your child antidiarrhoeal and anti-vomiting medication, unless advised to by your GP or pharmacist.

Read further information about treating dehydration

Read further information about treating diarrhoea in children and babies

• do not rely on alcohol hand gels to clean hands as they’re not always effective – use soap and water
• do not eat food that is past its use-by date
• do not share your child’s towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils while your child is ill
• do not let your child use a swimming pool until at least 2 weeks after their symptoms stop

Young children can have the rotavirus vaccination when they’re 2 to 3 months old. This can reduce their risk of developing gastroenteritis.

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