Protect others if you are experiencing diarrhea! Anyone with a diarrheal illness should avoid swimming in public pools or lakes, sharing baths with others, and preparing food for others. Young children children in diapers that are experiencing diarrhea should not be allowed to go swimming or attend daycare.
What are the symptoms? How long does it last? How is it spread? People become infected with norovirus by: Eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by an infected person. Eating uncooked shellfish that has been harvested from contaminated waters. Touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their mouth or eating without washing their hands first. You don't usually need to get medical advice, unless your symptoms don't improve or there's a risk of a more serious problem.
Gastroenteritis can spread very easily, so you should wash your hands regularly while you're ill and stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared, to reduce the risk of passing it on see Preventing gastroenteritis. You don't normally need to see your GP if you think you have gastroenteritis, as it should get better on its own.
Visiting your GP surgery can put others at risk, so it's best to phone or your GP if you're concerned or feel you need advice. Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of your poo to a laboratory to check what's causing your symptoms. Antibiotics may be prescribed if this shows you have a bacterial infection. You can look after your child at home if they have diarrhoea and vomiting. There's not usually any specific treatment and your child should start feeling better in a few days.
You don't normally need to get medical advice unless their symptoms don't improve or there's a risk of a more serious problem. Make sure you and your child wash your hands regularly while your child is ill and keep them away from school or nursery until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared see Preventing gastroenteritis.
You don't usually need to see your GP if you think your child has gastroenteritis, as it should get better on its own, and taking them to a GP surgery can put others at risk. Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of your child's poo to a laboratory to confirm what's causing their symptoms. Antibiotics may be prescribed if this shows they have a bacterial infection. You can catch the infection if small particles of vomit or poo from an infected person get into your mouth, such as through:.
A person with gastroenteritis is most infectious from when their symptoms start until 48 hours after all their symptoms have passed, although they may also be infectious for a short time before and after this.
It's not always possible to avoid getting gastroenteritis, but following the advice below can help stop it spreading:. Take extra care when travelling to parts of the world with poor sanitation, as you could pick up a stomach bug. For example, you may need to boil tap water before drinking it. Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Gastroenteritis. About gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is a very common condition that causes diarrhoea and vomiting.
It affects people of all ages, but is particularly common in young children. This page covers: Symptoms of gastroenteritis What to do if you have gastroenteritis When to get medical advice Looking after a child with gastroenteritis Getting medical advice for your child How gastroenteritis is spread Preventing gastroenteritis Symptoms of gastroenteritis The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are: sudden, watery diarrhoea feeling sick vomiting, which can be projectile a mild fever Some people also have other symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, an upset stomach , aching limbs and headaches.
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Gastroenteritis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection, and less often by a parasitic infection. The most common causes of viral gastroenteritis are norovirus and rotavirus. Campylobacter, Escherichia coli E. Parasitic gastroenteritis is usually caused by Giardia. Viral gastroenteritis is the most frequent cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks, which occur when groups of people are affected at the same time and place. Norovirus outbreaks can affect both children and adults, while rotavirus mainly affects infants and children.
Campylobacter is the most commonly reported cause of foodborne illness in New Zealand, often found on raw chicken or raw red meat, and in unpasteurised milk. It has a hour incubation time and symptoms can last for 5 to 8 days on average. It is more likely there was a toxin in the food.
The people most at risk of gastroenteritis are:. The main symptom of gastroenteritis is diarrhoea , which is when your bowel movements faeces or stools become watery and you need to go to the toilet frequently and urgently.
Although diarrhoea is the primary symptom of gastroenteritis, there are many other symptoms and signs. Depending on the cause, symptoms may appear within one to three days after infection and can range from mild to severe. Reviewed: October 1, Medically Reviewed. Sometimes pneumonia can trigger these symptoms that mimic gastroenteritis: Vomiting Fever Abdominal pain Loss of appetite Dehydration If the pneumonia is in the lower part of your lungs, near your abdomen, you might only have abdominal pain and vomiting, not breathing problems.
Other hallmark signs of viral meningitis include: Headache Stiff neck Joint pain Drowsiness Confusion Discomfort when looking at bright lights Skin rash The Bottom Line Symptoms of gastroenteritis can resemble those of other illnesses. It might help to know the key traits of gastroenteritis: Gastroenteritis is caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasite.
Symptoms include watery diarrhea , stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, and sometimes a fever. Most cases of gastroenteritis are contagious, but some are passed on by contaminated food or water. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Stomach Flu Gastroenteritis : Diagnosis and Tests.
Cleveland Clinic. April 26, May Definition and Facts for Appendicitis. November Appendicitis in Children. November 17, Stomach Flu or Appendicitis? What Parents Should Know.
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