Gastroenteritis
Introduction
Gastroenteritis is a very common condition that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It's usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug.
It affects people of all ages, but is particularly common in young children.
Most cases in children are caused by a virus called rotavirus. Cases in adults are usually caused by Winter vomiting disease (the "winter vomiting bug") or bacterial food poisoning .
Gastroenteritis can be very unpleasant, but it usually clears up by itself within a week. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home until you're feeling better.
Try to avoid going to your GP, as gastroenteritis can spread to others very easily. Call NHS 111 or your GP if you're concerned or need any advice.
This page covers:
Getting medical advice for your child
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017
Introduction
What to do if you or your child has diarrhoea and vomiting (gastroenteritis), including how to look after yourself and when to get medical advice.
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,
What to do if you have gastroenteritis
If you experience sudden diarrhoea and vomiting, the best thing to do is stay at home until you're feeling better.There's not always a specific treatment, so you have to let the illness run its course
When to get medical advice
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 callNHS 111 or your
Looking after a child with gastroenteritis
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
Getting medical advice for your child
You don'tusually 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. Call NHS 111 or your GP i
How gastroenteritis is spread
The bugs that cause gastroenteritis can spread very easily from person to person. You can catchthe infectionif small particles of vomit or poo from an infected person get into your mouth, such as thr
Preventing gastroenteritis
It's not always possible to avoid gettinggastroenteritis, but following the advice below can help stop it spreading: Stay off work, school or nursery until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have
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