Here are six signs of gastroenteritis in Children:

• Vomiting

Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms of gastroenteritis in children. If your kid has been vomiting for more than two days, you should take them to see a doctor.

• Diarrhea

Diarrhea occurs when there’s frequent passage of loose, unformed stool. It’s often accompanied by an urgent need to defecate and cramping within the abdomen.

• Fever

A high fever is another sign that your child may be suffering due to a gastroenteritis infection.

• Nausea

Children with gastroenteritis often feel nauseous and may even throw up. They may also be unable to eat or drink due to nausea.

• Loss of appetite

It is quite common for children suffering from gastroenteritis to lose their appetite or experience a decrease in appetite because of nausea or persistent vomiting.

• Frequent bowel movements

If your child has frequent bowel movements that are loose or watery, they could be suffering from gastroenteritis.

Treatment Options for Gastroenteritis in Children:

If your child has mild symptoms of gastroenteritis, you can often treat them yourself at home by following these steps:

• Give plenty of fluids to drink including ORS solution
• Make them rest as much as possible
• Let them eat when they feel up to it
• Give medication to relieve pain and fever (such as paracetamol)
• Avoid foods that may worsen their symptoms until they feel better

Remember to take your child to the doctor if they don’t improve with these measures!

Conclusion

Here, we’ve provided six tell-tale signs of gastroenteritis in children, and we also gave you some options to help them get relief. We believe you found this article useful to your knowledge and understanding of gastroenteritis in children.  For more information, contact Dr. Vishesh Dikshit at Pune.

About Dr. Vishesh Dikshit

Dr. Vishesh Dikshit graduated from Govt. Medical College Calicut, Kerala, in 2004 with an MBBS degree in medicine. MS in General Surgery from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College in Sion, Mumbai, in 2012, and MCh in Pediatric Surgery from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College in Sion, Mumbai, in 2015.

In particular, he is interested in Pediatric Minimal Access Surgery (through Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy, and Genitourinary-scopy), Pediatric Colorectal diseases (including Hirschprung’s disease and Anorectal Abnormalities), and Pediatric Urology Disease.

• Getting Ready for the Test

Your child must be kept fasting before having an endoscopy. You must prevent your child from having solid food for eight hours prior to the procedure. They can have clear liquids till about two hours before having an endoscopy. Avoid giving any medicines to your child against the doctor’s advice.

• The Procedure

At first, a nurse will explain how the endoscopy will work. In case you have any questions, you can ask the nurse. They will give your child an IV for making them feel relaxed and sleepy.

• The Timing

Your child will have to stay in the hospital for three to four hours but this may extend in certain cases.

• After the Procedure

Once the procedure is over, your child will need one to two hours until the sedatives wear off. They may feel bloated because of the air put in their stomach during the procedure. Once discharged, they should be taken home rather than any other place. Give them only light meals on that day, and follow their doctor’s advice. After they feel well, you can offer them their normal diet.

• Eliminates the Requirement of Surgery

During endoscopy, your child’s doctor can widen their small intestine and esophagus, remove any foreign objects, and control ulcer bleeding. This will eliminate the need for surgery in these conditions.

• Gastroenterologists

A pediatric gastroenterologist will perform the endoscopy. Your pediatrician will be able to provide you with a referral.

• Complications

Complications are extremely rare. Some of them include punctures and bleeding from the lining of the stomach. Your child may feel some mild soreness in their throat after having the gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Dr. Vishesh Dikshit is the Best Pediatric Surgeon in Pune. If you have any problem related to your child’s gastrointestinal condition Book your appointment today with Dr. Vishesh Dikshit at Umarji Mother and Child Care Hospital, Pune.