The dreaded gastro

Winter might be gone, but gastro is here to stay! Charlotte Young from & Breathe First Aid tells is why gastro lingers into spring and red flags to watch out for. 

Winter is over and the sunny days are finally coming! But even though the respiratory bugs might be on the way out, gastro is still here to stay for a while. Despite warmer temperatures gastro still can linger into spring. Kids can get sick quickly with gastro so let's talk about common signs, why it hangs around past winter, how you can manage at home and the red flag signs to look out for that mean your little one needs medical help. 

What is gastro? 

Gastro is inflammation of the stomach and gut usually caused by a virus, although bacteria and parasites can sometimes be culprits as well. The most common viruses that cause gastro in children include rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus. Our little ones are especially prone to gastro due to their developing immune systems and frequent close contact with other children, making it easy for the illness to spread in daycares and schools. 

Typical symptoms include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Fever (sometimes) 

Why gastro continues into the spring 

Although gastro often happens in the colder months, it doesn’t simply disappear when the sun comes out. There are several reasons why gastro lingers into spring: 

1. Viral Activity: Certain viruses, like norovirus, remain active and can spread even after winter is over. While the flu and other cold-related viruses taper off, these stubborn viruses thrive in warmer conditions and crowded spaces, making spring outbreaks common.
2. Sunny day activities: As the weather warms up we start doing more outdoor activities. These can bring in the risk of gastro from bacteria and parasites. Food left out at BBQs or picnics, sharing communal food and swimming in not-so-clean water are common non-viral causes for causing gastro.
3. Lambing season and hanging out where animals are: With lambing season brings one main gastro culprit, cryptosporidium. This passes easily from animals to humans via their poo and as we a strong farming country it’s a common cause of gastro in the spring. Living in the city and think it isn’t a problem? Remember one quick trip to Cornwall Park or a park with farm animals can bring this bug right into your home via your pram or shoes. 

How to manage gastro at home 

For most healthy children, gastro can be managed at home with careful attention and plenty of fluids. While it can be a miserable time for everyone, it usually resolves within a few days. Here's how you can help your child recover comfortably and potentially avoid a trip to the hospital. 

1. Hydration is key: They key part of managing gastro at home is preventing dehydration, especially since children lose fluids rapidly through diarrhea and vomiting. Offer small sips of appropriate milk (breast or formula) for babies under 12 months, and hydration fluid or 50:50 water and apple juice for kids over 12 months. Avoid sugary drinks and full-strength fruit juices, as they can your little ones feel weak and tired, so encourage plenty of rest. Provide a calm environment where they can relax and sleep as much as they need.
2. Wash hands and surfaces: To prevent the spread of the virus, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after caring for your child, cleaning up after them, and before preparing food. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, toys, and bathrooms regularly.
3. Keep it bland: It can take a little while for their gut to recover once they have gastro. Offering more plain food like toast, bananas and crackers can help with settling their tummy as its recovering. 

Gastro Red Flags: When to seek help 

While most cases of gastro can be treated at home, some symptoms mean it’s time to get medical help. If your child has any of the following red flags, don’t hesitate to head to your nearest emergency department or call HealthLine (0800 611 116) if you’re not sure what to do:

• Signs of dehydration: Dehydration is the biggest risk with gastro, especially in babies and young children. Watch for dry mouth, sunken eyes, reduced urine output (or no wet nappies for six hours), extreme thirst, or lethargy.
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhea: If they cannot keep anything down or have more than 10 poos in 24 hours.
• Blood in stool or vomit: The presence of blood in your child’s stool or vomit can be a sign of a more serious infection or condition
• High fever: If your little one is under three months and has a temperature over 38 degrees Celcius they need to be seen by a doctor urgently. If they are over three months, a fever isn’t as much of a worry. Don’t worry about the number on the thermometer, instead look out for other signs they are becoming seriously unwell and need medical help.
• Severe stomach pain: While mild cramping is common with gastro, if your child is experiencing severe or persistent pain, it could indicate something more serious.
• Unresponsiveness or lethargy: If your child becomes unusually drowsy, difficult to wake, or unresponsive, this could be a sign of severe dehydration or low sugars, and you should get medical help immediately or call for an ambulance.

Charlotte is a senior clinical paediatric ICU nurse and a mum to a busy two-year-old with another bub on the way.  She runs & Breathe, teaching immersive baby and child first aid courses to families. Motivated by seeing poor outcomes and preventable injuries in the PICU, she has a passion for helping families learn effective CPR and how to keep their little ones safe. Visit andbreathefirstaid.co.nz to book a course.