Gastroenteritis in children and babies
Gastroenteritis in children and babies
Overview
Gastroenteritis causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It’s common in young children and is usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug. Most cases in children are caused by a virus called rotavirus.
Gastroenteritis can be very unpleasant, but it usually clears up by itself within a week. You can normally look after your child at home until they’re feeling better.
There is a separate page on gastroenteritis in adults.
Common Symptoms
Emergency Warning Signs
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.
Don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Your child usually doesn't need to see a doctor for gastroenteritis. It normally gets better by itself, and taking them to a doctor's chamber could risk passing the infection to others.
Call 999 or go to the hospital emergency department right away 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 skin, lips or tongue that look blue, grey, pale or blotchy (on brown or black skin, this can show up more clearly on the palms or the soles of the feet)
- is struggling badly to breathe, or is taking fast, short breaths
- is hard to wake up, seems confused, or is not responding as usual
- is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C (101°F) or higher, and has not had a vaccine in the past 2 days
- is under 3 months old with a temperature of 36°C (97°F) or lower, and has not had a vaccine in the past 2 days
Call your doctor or visit a clinic if you're worried about your child, or if they:
- show signs of dehydration, such as passing less urine than usual, being unusually irritable or unresponsive, having pale or mottled skin, or having cold hands and feet
- have blood in their stool
- keep vomiting and cannot keep any fluids or feeds down
- have had diarrhoea for more than 7 days, or vomiting for more than 2 days
- are breathing a little faster than normal or seem to be working harder to breathe
- are over 3 months old with a temperature of 39°C (102°F) or higher
- have a temperature of 36°C (97°F) or lower
- have a serious underlying condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease or a weakened immune system, and now have diarrhoea and vomiting too
Your doctor may want to send a sample of your child's stool to a laboratory to find out what's causing the symptoms. If it turns out to be a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Looking after a child with gastroenteritis
You can usually care for your child at home if they have diarrhoea and vomiting. There is no specific treatment needed in most cases, and your child should start to feel better within a few days.
You generally don't need medical advice unless the symptoms are not improving or there's a chance of something more serious going on. Still, there is plenty you can do at home to ease their discomfort.
Helpful steps
- encourage your child to take small sips of diluted juice (full sugar) to help prevent dehydration
- keep feeding babies as usual, with breast milk or their regular milk feeds
- let your child rest as much as possible
- if your child is already eating solid food and feels hungry, offer small amounts of plain food such as soup, rice, pasta and bread
- give paracetamol for fever, aches or pains; liquid paracetamol is often easier for young children to swallow than tablets
- if your child shows signs of dehydration, use oral rehydration drinks from a pharmacy, and ask the pharmacist how much to give
- keep your child home from school or daycare until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have fully passed, and avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time
- encourage frequent, thorough handwashing with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before handling food
- disinfect surfaces or objects that may be contaminated, ideally with a bleach-based cleaner
- wash any soiled clothing or bedding separately on a hot cycle
- flush away stool or vomit in the toilet and clean the area around it afterward
- keep food properly refrigerated
- always cook food thoroughly
Best avoided
- don't dilute baby formula to make it weaker; prepare it at the usual strength
- don't give children fruit juice or fizzy drinks, as these can make diarrhoea worse
- don't give medicine to stop diarrhoea to children under 12
- don't give aspirin to anyone under 16
- don't give your child medicine for diarrhoea or vomiting unless your doctor or pharmacist has specifically advised it
- don't rely on alcohol-based hand sanitiser alone, since it isn't always effective; wash with soap and water instead
- don't eat food that is past its expiry date
- don't share your child's towels, face cloths, cutlery or utensils while they're unwell
- don't let your child swim in a pool until at least 2 weeks after their symptoms have stopped
Children can receive the rotavirus vaccine between 2 and 3 months of age, which can lower their chances of developing gastroenteritis.
Treatment
A pharmacist can help if your child has gastroenteritis.
Talk to a pharmacist if your child:
- shows signs of dehydration, such as passing dark, strong smelling pee, or peeing less than usual
- has a weakened immune system
- has any other health condition that raises their risk of dehydration
- needs their diarrhoea stopped for a few hours
The pharmacist may suggest:
- oral rehydration powder mixed with water to make a drink. Adding a little diluted squash, not a sugar free one, can make it easier for your child to accept the taste
- medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours, such as loperamide. This is not suitable for children aged 11 years and under
How gastroenteritis spreads
The bugs behind gastroenteritis pass from person to person very easily.
You can pick up the infection if tiny particles of vomit or poo from someone who is infected get into your mouth. This can happen through:
- close contact with someone who has gastroenteritis, since they may breathe out small particles of vomit
- touching surfaces or objects that carry the infection
Eating contaminated food is another risk. This can happen if:
- an infected person handles food without washing their hands first
- you eat food that has touched contaminated surfaces or objects
- you eat food that was not stored or cooked at the right temperature
A person with gastroenteritis is most likely to pass it on from the time their symptoms begin until 48 hours after all symptoms have gone. That said, they can still be infectious for a short while before and after this period too.
Prevention
It's not always possible to keep your child from catching gastroenteritis, but a few simple habits at home can go a long way in stopping it from spreading to others in the family.