children s health issues
Gastroenteritis in Children
Causes of Gastroenteritis in Children
Most gastroenteritis is caused by Viruses (most common cause) Bacteria None Parasites None Rarer causes of gastroenteritis include Chemical toxins None Medications None Medications None Rarely, gastroenteritis is the result of an allergic condition (eosinophilic gastroenteritis) or a Food Allergy . Viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States. Four categories of viruses cause most gastroenteritis. The two most common are Norovirus Gastroenteritis (most common in the United States) Rotavirus Gastroenteritis (most common worldwide) Most other viral cases are caused by astrovirus or adenovirus. Children usually contract viral gastroenteritis from other children who have had it or who have been exposed to it, such as those in child care centers, schools, and other crowded settings. Viral gastroenteritis is very contagious and spreads particularly easily from child to child. Fecal-oral transmissionis the usual way that viral gastroenteritis spreads. Fecal-oral means that viruses in the diarrhea stool (feces) from an infected person are taken into the mouth of another person. Of course, people do not ingest stool directly. Instead, children with diarrhea and/or their caretakers may have some infected stool on their hands (particularly when they do not thoroughly wash their hands). Then any objects they touch (such as a diaper, a toy, or food) also become contaminated with infected stool. Other children who touch that object and then put their hands and fingers in and near their mouth may get infected by the virus. Viral gastroenteritis can also be spread by sneezing, coughing, and spitting. Norovirus Gastroenteritis None Rotavirus Infection None Astroviruscan infect people of all ages but usually infects infants and young children. In temperate climates, infection is most common in winter months, and in tropical regions, infection is more common in summer months. It is spread by fecal-oral transmission. Adenovirusmost commonly affects children under the age of 2 years. Infections occur year-round and increase slightly in the summer. The infection is spread by fecal-oral transmission as well as by respiratory droplets. The bacteria that most commonly cause gastroenteritis include Campylobacter Infections None Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile–Induced Colitis ( Escherichia coli Infections ( Salmonella Infections None Shigellosis None Staphylococcus aureus Infections (causing Less common causes include Plague and Other Yersinia Infections , Children can contract bacterial gastroenteritis by Touching or eating contaminated foods, particularly raw or inadequately cooked meats, poultry, or eggs Eating contaminated shellfish Drinking unpasteurized milk or juice Touching animals that carry certain bacteria Swallowing contaminated water, such as from wells, streams, and swimming pools Bacteria may grow in many types of foods that have been left out and not refrigerated (potential problem situations include buffets and picnics). Staphylococcus aureus Infections bacteria in contaminated food may secrete a toxin that causes sudden vomiting and diarrhea. Gastroenteritis contracted from food containing microorganisms or bacterial toxins is sometimes called Children can contract Salmonella Infections by contact with reptiles (turtles or lizards), birds, or amphibians (frogs or salamanders) and rarely can contract Children can contract gastroenteritis by swallowing or swimming in contaminated water, such as from wells, streams, oceans, lakes, rivers, water parks, splash pads, hot tubs, and swimming pools (calledswimming-related illnesses). may occur in children who have taken antibiotics or who have finished a course of antibiotics in the last 6 to 10 weeks (see Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile–Induced Colitis ) because the antibiotics can treat normal bacteria in the digestive tract that help keep the illness-causing bacteria in check. Some children may develop Gastroenteritis caused by parasites (such as Giardiasis and The parasite Amebiasis is a common cause of bloody diarrhea in areas where sanitation is inadequate but is rare in the United States. Gastroenteritis may result from ingesting Overview of Food Poisoning . These toxins can be found in plants, such as Many medications cause diarrhea. Children who are given (or who accidentally ingest) certain medications (such as antibiotics or antacids) may develop gastroenteritis (see sidebar Gastroenteritis as a Side Effect of Drugs ). Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects of many medications. Common offenders include Antacids containing magnesium as a major ingredient Antibiotics (diarrhea may occur as a side effect or because of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile–Induced Colitis ) Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Colchicine(for gout) Digoxin(usually used for heart failure or certain irregular heart rhythms) Medications used to remove or destroy internal parasitic worms Laxatives (overuse of laxatives can lead to weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, electrolyte loss, and other disturbances) Recognizing that a medication is causing gastroenteritis can be difficult. In mild cases, a doctor may advise a person to stop taking the medication and later start taking it again. If the symptoms subside when the person stops taking the medication and resume when the person starts taking it again, then the medication may be the cause of the gastrointestinal symptoms. In severe cases of gastroenteritis, a doctor may instruct the person to stop taking the medication permanently. 