Summer Gastroenteritis in Children
What should parents watch out for and when to worry
What is it?
These are viral, bacterial or parasitic infections that cause:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration
In the summer they are more common due to:
- Eating food outdoors
- Poor hand hygiene
- Improper storage of ice cream or dairy products
- Drinking water from swimming pools, the sea or after a long power outage
When to be concerned:
- Many episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhea in a few hours
- Refusing fluids / no urine (risk of dehydration)
- Blood in stool and/or high fever
- Lethargy, dry lips, dark urine → signs of dehydration
What parents can do:
- Small amounts of fluids every 10-15 minutes, 2 hours after the last vomiting (water, electrolytes)
- Avoid milk/juices in the first few hours
- Diet with simple, dry foods (toast, rusk, rice, apple)
- Antipyretic only when necessary and not as stomach painkiller
- No antibiotics without medical advice
What to bring with you on vacation:
- Antipyretic
- Electrolyte solution
- Hand sanitizer
- Thermometer
- Doctor’s prescription if there has been a similar episode in the past
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