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Beware of gastroenteritis!

Gastroenteritis! What do you need to know to kill it in dt time without straining the child's body?

What is Gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis is the second cause, after the common cold, that leads a patient to the doctor. It is an inflammation, irritation that affects the stomach and intestines at the same time. It usually lasts 2-5 days, but it is not uncommon for younger children to last a few more days.

Ways of infection

Infection of gastroenteritis occurs through the oral route, either directly with the hands or indirectly with contaminated food or water. The transmission is deteriorating indoors, where children are crowded, such as kindergartens, schools, playgrounds, etc.

How it manifests

Acute gastroenteritis causes:

Puke
Watery diarrhea
Diffuse abdominal pain

Symptoms:

The symptoms of gastroenteritis are common and well known. Their onset is usually sudden and is manifested by diarrhea or vomiting. Other symptoms include:

Fever, nausea, anorexia
Headaches or myalgias
A general feeling of malaise and weakness

Causes of gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is usually caused by viruses that are transmitted and less often by bacteria or germs that invade the body by consuming inappropriate food or contaminated water. In addition to viruses, bacteria or parasites, some heterogeneous factors may be responsible, such as:

Emotional charge (anxiety, fear).
Reduced tolerance of the body to certain foods or food groups.
Chemicals that act as "poisons" and their origin can be organic (mushrooms, shellfish) or inorganic (detergents, insecticides).
Medications, most commonly antibiotics.

What to do:

The first thing you need to do for your child is diet. Start with chicken and rice or pasta for as long as the diarrhea lasts.

Vegetables, fruits, sweets, dairy products and juices, especially those containing sugar, should be avoided because they cause more severe diarrhea.

If it is a baby who is fed only milk, boil rice water and dilute his milk with it.

Make sure your child gets as much fluid as possible to avoid dehydration (special electrolyte preparations are available at pharmacies). Especially if gastroenteritis is accompanied by vomiting, the child is at greater risk of dehydration.

Λόγοι ανησυχίας

With proper nutrition and plenty of fluids, gastroenteritis usually resolves. However, you should contact your doctor immediately when:

The symptoms of gastroenteritis are particularly severe.
Your child's behavior is different, e.g. shows drowsiness. Drowsiness may be a sign of dehydration and the child may need serum treatment to replenish lost fluids.
The child has lost many pounds.
He is not in the mood to play.

Beware of dehydration!

Dehydration is especially dangerous in infants, children, the elderly and people in vulnerable groups with reduced defenses. Immediately transport the child to the hospital in case of dehydration.

Grandmas tips.

Use an apple, a banana and rice water as medicine.

Apple and banana (ground without water) help fight gastroenteritis by stopping diarrhea and vomiting.

The next meal and the best "cure" for gastroenteritis, according to the grandmothers' medicine, is rice water (boiled rice juice with a little salt and a little lemon).

What you should always remember is -especially if you are on vacation- to give the child only bottled water, because water change is one of the primary factors in causing gastroenteritis.

gastroenteritis