What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis in children?

Children are prone to gastroenteritis due to their weak intestines and lack of hygiene. Attacks of gastroenteritis are usually accompanied by fever, vomiting, and pain when the abdomen is lightly pressed. Because the baby is relatively small and can express himself clearly, parents must observe carefully. If they find any symptoms similar to those of childhood gastroenteritis, they must seek medical treatment in time. Gastroenteritis can be well controlled by medication in the early stages, but if the child has a high fever and becomes unconscious, it is more serious because gastroenteritis can cause intestinal perforation or sepsis if not treated properly. Below we will talk in detail about the symptoms of gastroenteritis in children so that we can detect and treat it early.

Gastroenteritis is a gastrointestinal disease characterized by inflammation of the stomach and small intestine. Generally speaking, bacterial gastroenteritis is more serious and is more likely to cause complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation, and even peritonitis.

Acute gastroenteritis usually starts suddenly, with nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea as the main symptoms. Vomiting is common among child patients, and the main symptoms are the following five.

1. Diarrhea: Acute onset, frequent nausea and vomiting, severe abdominal pain, frequent diarrhea, mostly watery stools, which may contain undigested food, a small amount of mucus, and even blood.

2. Fever: Fever, headache, general discomfort and symptoms of poisoning of varying degrees are common.

3. Nausea and vomiting: Severe vomiting and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, acidosis, and even shock.

4. Abdominal cramps and abdominal tenderness: The child has no obvious physical signs, but there is tenderness in the upper abdomen and around the umbilicus, no muscle tension or rebound pain, and bowel sounds are often hyperactive.

5. Loss of appetite, crying and restlessness.

Diarrhea is defined as soft or watery stools and an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, so it should be compared to your baby's previous stool patterns. For example, it is normal for breastfed babies to have bowel movements several times a day.

The shape of the stool can also be used to infer whether it is viral or bacterial gastroenteritis. If it is viral gastroenteritis, the stool is usually watery and soft, and it is unlikely to contain blood or mucus. However, bacterial gastroenteritis is more likely to have mucus and blood in the stool, and even if the food intake is reduced, bloody and mucous stools will continue to be excreted many times, which can also distinguish it from viral gastroenteritis.

If your baby has severe diarrhea or vomiting, blood, mucus or pus in the stool, persistent abdominal pain or crying, or persistent high fever, poor mobility or even unconsciousness, you must seek medical attention immediately and seek diagnosis and treatment from a doctor. Severe gastroenteritis may cause serious complications such as intestinal perforation or sepsis.