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Gastroenteritis in children Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, October 2008.

Answers to questions about gastroenteritis in children

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

What are probiotics? Are they safe to give to children?

How can I prevent my child from getting gastroenteritis when we're abroad?

If my child has gastroenteritis, what should I feed them?

What are probiotics? Are they safe to give to children?

Probiotics are a food supplement. They contain live bacteria and yeasts that can be helpful in restoring the balance of bacteria in your child's gut after a bout of gastroenteritis. They are safe for children to take.

Explanation

Probiotics are food supplements containing live bacteria and yeasts that help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut. Bacteria are often thought of as harmful and causing ill-health, but there are many good bacteria that live in and on your body that help keep you healthy. This is especially so in your gut. Good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract prevent harmful organisms from growing in your bowel or entering your body through your intestine.

Gastroenteritis is an infection in your child's gut usually caused by harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites. These germs damage the cells lining the inner surface of your child's gut, interfering with its normal processes and upsetting the balance of bacteria. Taking probiotics helps to restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut. This helps to relieve symptoms of diarrhoea and speed up your child's recovery.

In recent years, there has been a lot of research into probiotics, and they have been found to be safe and of benefit to both adults and children with gastroenteritis.

You can buy probiotics as food supplements (capsules or tablets) from your pharmacist or health food shops. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your supplements. Or, they can be bought as yogurts or drinks (eg Danone Activa or Actimel) from your supermarket. Plain yogurts don't contain probiotics.

If you have any questions or concerns about probiotics or gastroenteritis, talk to your GP.

Further information

• The British Dietetic Association
  www.bda.uk.com

Sources

• Probiotics for treating infectious diarrhoea (review). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2007, Issue 4. www.cochrane.org
• Probiotics. The British Dietetic Association. www.bda.uk.com, accessed 30 July 2008

How can I prevent my child from getting gastroenteritis when we're abroad?

When travelling abroad, there's always a danger that your child may pick up gastroenteritis. But by being prepared and careful about what your child eats and drinks while you are away, you can ensure that your child stays healthy.

Explanation

For most people who get gastroenteritis when travelling abroad, symptoms start within the first week and they generally last for three to four days. They are usually mild and clear up fairly quickly on their own. Getting gastroenteritis while abroad can be unpleasant and distressing for both you and your child and interfere with your time away. To make sure your child stays well, it's important to take care over the food and drink they have. The following advice applies equally to children and adults.

• Don't eat raw or undercooked meat, fish and salad vegetables. Stick to well-cooked foods (for example, steamed or stir-fried meals).
• Try to eat foods that have come from cans or sealed packs.
• Be careful of foods or dishes containing raw or undercooked eggs, for example, mayonnaise or potato salad.
• Don't eat unpasturised dairy products.
• Stick to fruits that you can peel yourself, rather than eating ready peeled fruits or fruits with their skins still on.
• Never drink tap water, unsealed bottles of mineral water, drinks with ice in them or fruit juices from street vendors. Instead, drink boiled or internationally labelled bottled water, coffee, tea, or use sterilisation tablets to purify potentially unsafe drinking water.

Before travelling abroad, it's important to think about what you can take with you in case your child does become ill. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) (ie Dioralyte) can be extremely useful if your child becomes dehydrated. It's important to use clean, safe drinking water when preparing the solution. If you don't have any ORS you can give your child sports drinks (ie Lucozade). Probiotic supplements can also be useful in relieving symptoms.

If your child does become ill, it's important to ensure that he or she is drinking enough fluids. It's recommended that for:

• children under two, 50-100ml (between a quarter and half a large cup) of fluid should be drunk after each loose stool
• children two to 10 years old, 100-200ml (between half and a whole large cup) of fluid should be drunk after each loose stool
• older children, 200ml (a large cup) of fluid should be drunk after each loose stool

These fluids can be taken in the form of oral rehydration salts (ORS) (ie Dioralyte), and should be in addition to their normal fluid intake. However, if your child is refusing to drink ORS, giving them any fluids is better than nothing.

If you are in a hot county, your child will become dehydrated more quickly than they would at home, especially if they have a temperature. Use a damp sponge on their skin to cool them down and make sure they are kept in shaded, cool areas, especially during the hottest part of the day.

Your child should continue with their normal diet, leaving out high fat foods and food and drink with a high sugar content. For young children, continue with their usual feeds There is no need to dilute formula milk or to change to a lactose-free formula.

Medicines for sickness, such as Kaolin, and diarrhoea, such as loperamide, (ie Imodium) are not suitable for children under 12, so should not be given.

If your child's symptoms become severe or if they can't tolerate fluids, you should seek medical help immediately, especially if your child:

• becomes dehydrated - you may notice they have a dry mouth and eyes, no tears when they cry, sunken eyes, tiredness, giddiness, rapid breathing or they aren't passing urine very often
• has blood in his or her stools and has a fever above 38.5°C
• has been vomiting for more that 24 hours
• has had diarrhoea for more than three days
• is in an area where cholera is widespread
• has any other signs of illness

If you have any questions or concerns about gastroenteritis and you will be travelling, talk to your GP before you go abroad.

Further information

• The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
  www.nathnac.org

Sources

• Gastroenteritis. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 31 July 2008

If my child has gastroenteritis, what should I feed them?

If your child has gastroenteritis, it's important to continuing feeding them as normal and ensure they are drinking enough fluids.

Explanation

For babies that are breastfeeding, it's important to feed them as much as they want, and give them oral rehydration salts (ORS) (ie Dioralyte). If your child has moved from breast milk to formula milk and is still under the age of six months, it's advisable to go back to breastfeeding until they are better. Young children on formula milk should continue to be fed as normal. There is no need to dilute their feed or switch to a lactose-free feed. This can happen after a bout of gastroenteritis causing them to develop loose, frothy stools. If this happens don't give them any milk or milk-based products.

If your child is six months or more and already eating soft foods, you should continue to give them their usual diet of cereals, vegetable and other foods, as well as their milk.

Older children should eat as normal, leaving out fatty foods or any food or drink with a high sugar content (for example, fruit juice and sugar-containing soft drinks).

It's also important to ensure that your child is getting enough fluids. It's recommended that for:

• children under two, 50-100ml (between a quarter and half a large cup) of fluid should be drunk after each loose stool
• children two to 10 years old, 100-200ml (between half and a whole large cup) of fluid should be drunk after each loose stool
• older children, 200ml (a large cup) of fluid should be drunk after each loose stool

These fluids can be taken in the form of oral rehydration salts (ORS) (ie Dioralyte), and should be in addition to their normal fluid intake. However, if your child is refusing to drink the ORS, giving them any fluids is better than nothing.

If you have any concerns or questions about gastroenteritis and your child, talk to your GP.

Sources

• Gastroenteritis. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 31 July 2008

Related topics

• Gastroenteritis in children
• Gastroenteritis in adults
• Breastfeeding
• Fever
• Food hygiene

This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: October 2008

		Gastroenteritis in children factsheet Visit the gastroenteritis in children health factsheet for more information.

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