Acute gastroenteritis in children

Gastroenteritis in children usually occurs at an early age and in younger schoolchildren and manifests itself as an acute disease of the digestive tract of infectious nature. Gastroenteritis in children is accompanied by digestive disorders, repeated vomiting and diarrhea, and dehydration phenomena.

Etiology of the disease

Acute gastroenteritis can be viral and infectious etiology. Among the viruses, the disease can cause rotaviruses, influenza virus and others.
Infectious pathogens are most often staphylococcus, E. coli, Salmonella, causative agent of dysentery, etc.

The pathological pathogens enter the body through unwashed hands, personal hygiene items, utensils, bottles, toys and products.
In particular, when a staphylococcal pathogen enters food, it can multiply and accumulate an enterotoxin. Staphylococcus enter the body with meat, fish, dairy products, confectionery, canned food. And the seeded products by smell and appearance, do not differ from normal ones. Salmonella can be found on eggs, meat, fish.

Gastroenteritis in children develops due to enterotoxins entering the gastrointestinal tract orally or by hematogenous way (through the blood). Its absorption occurs already in the stomach, the period from penetration of the pathogen into the body before the onset of the disease is very short and amounts to several hours.

Gastroenteritis in children, symptoms of the disease

Acute gastroenteritis in children has a sudden, acute onset. Characteristic signs are nausea, frequent vomiting, frequent undigested liquid stool with fetid odor. There may be cramping pains in the abdomen, rumbling. The disease is accompanied by subfebrile and febrile temperature. Dangerous for the child is dehydration of the body as a result of fluid loss and electrolytes with vomiting and diarrhea. The child, when dehydrated, is flaccid, adynamic, the skin is pale, the turgor is reduced, the eyes are sunken. A collapsoid state may occur. It is important to know that dehydration in young children occurs very quickly and poses a threat to health and life. At a high temperature, a child may have convulsions.

Diagnosis of the disease

The diagnosis is based on the characteristic complaints and symptoms. In establishing the cause of the disease and the diagnosis, epidemiological prerequisites play a big role (mass destruction, connection with the use of a product). Diagnostic value is the excretion of the pathogen from the products.

Gastroenteritis in children, treatment

To remove enterotoxins, it is desirable to wash the stomach with boiled water or a weak soda solution. With the development of dehydration, measures are taken to replenish the fluid. The child in this state is very weak. Water should be given in small portions, on the spoon. With severe dehydration, hospitalization in hospital and intravenous fluid administration are necessary. Normally, salt solutions are introduced, which compensate for the loss of electrolytes. Assign digestive enzymes, probiotics. If necessary, use antibacterial therapy, antipyretics. It is possible to assign sorbents (activated carbon, polysorb, polyphepan, etc.). A special sparing diet is required.

With mild and moderate forms of the disease, the condition improves after a few days. Children with infectious gastroenteritis, a serious course of the disease, are hospitalized in the infectious department.

Prevention is reduced to maintaining personal hygiene, proper storage and processing of food. It is necessary to maintain cleanliness and processing of dishes, toys, facilities in children's preschool institutions.