What is Acute Gastroenteritis ?

Acute Gastroenteritis
I just read local newspaper about Acute Gastroenteritis effect on many children in one of town in my country. So, what is the meaning of acute gastroenteritis? Let’s read it :-

What is Acute Gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis is a common clinical problem that effect to children. It also known as stomach flu, gastro, gastric flu and stomach virus. The majority cause of this acute are by rotavirus while in adults norovirus. It can cause of morbidity and mortality. The clinician enconters acute viral gastroenteritis in 3 setting, sporadic gastroenteritis in fants, epidemic gastroenteritis that occurs either in semiclosed communities or as a result of classsic food borne or water-borne pathogens, third is sporadic acute gastroenteritis of aduls which is most likely caused by caliciviruses, rotaviruses, astroviruses or adenoviruses.
Symptoms

Symptoms most often appear within 4 to 48 hours after contact with the contaminated food or water, and include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting

Other symptoms may include:

  • Chills, clammy skin, or sweating
  • Fever
  • Joint stiffness or muscle pain
  • Poor feeding
  • Weight loss

Treatment

  • Older children and adults can drink sports beverages such as Gatorade, but these should not be used for younger children. Instead, use the electrolyte and fluid replacement solutions or freezer pops available in food and drug stores.
  • Do NOT use fruit juice (including apple juice), sodas or cola (flat or bubbly), Jell-O, or broth. All of these have a lot of sugar, which makes diarrhea worse, and they don’t replace lost minerals.
  • Drink small amounts of fluid (2-4 oz.) every 30-60 minutes. Do not try to force large amounts of fluid at one time, which can cause vomiting. Use a teaspoon or syringe for an infant or small child.
  • People with diarrhea who are unable to drink fluids because of nausea may need intravenous (directly into a vein) fluids. This is especially true in small children.
  • Breast milk or formula can be continued along with extra fluids. You do NOT need to switch to a soy formula.

You can buy medicines at the drugstore that can help stop or slow diarrhea.

  • Do not use these medicines without talking to your health care provider if you have bloody diarrhea, a fever, or if the diarrhea is severe.
  • Do not give these medicines to children.

Reference :- Emedicine
SmartParenting

NyTimes 

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.