Press Release:

Increase in Acute Gastroenteritis Cases in Children

Water contamination & chemical used as food sanitization may be the reason
Mumbai:  During the COVID 19 pandemic, people are extra vigilance in practicing good
hygiene washing hand or use of hand sanitization and wearing a mask has become mandatory
everywhere for their protection. Doctors at Apollo clinic has noticed that, due to water
contamination during the monsoon and unauthorised sanitation used for washing food and
vegetable has led to increase Acute Gastroenteritis cases in Children.
Apollo Clinic, a leading Indian multi-specialty clinic chain by Apollo Health & Lifestyle
(AHLL) has recently started the safe opd for the benefit of patient during the COVID 19
pandemic. Recently it has been noticed that no of Acute Gastroenteritis cases in Children
below 5 have increased.
Gastroenteritis in children is a commonly occurring problem with seasonal changes. Prompt
treatment and the right intervention under the guidance of your paediatrician will help your
child to recover faster. For the management of gastroenteritis, ORS, zinc supplementation,
and probiotics are effective in controlling the diarrhoeas and enhancing the gut immunity”
add Doctor.
To minimize the risk of spreading bacteria or viruses, always cook food to the recommended
temperature to kill off foodborne pathogens.

Gastroenteritis means irritation and swelling of the inner lining of the stomach. It is a

common condition, mainly because the microbes that can cause gastroenteritis are easily
spread through contaminated food or water, and person-to-person contact.  With the seasonal
change, children under 5 and especially below 6 months, are more prone to gastrointestinal
disease. The signs and symptoms may vary from middle ones like pain in the abdomen,
vomiting, loose motions, fever, loss of appetite, to even severe ones like dehydration, swollen
eyes, lethargy, blood in stools, and even low urine output, and needs immediate medical
attention.
“Gastroenteritis in children can be bacterial or viral in origin. Children under 6 months are
more susceptible to viral diarrhoea like Rota, whereas, children above the age group of 6
months to 5 years are prone to get bacterial infections. Rotavirus diarrhoea is the commonest
cause is acute gastroenteritis worldwide and prevents with watery diarrhoea without blood in
stools and low-grade fever, on the contrary, bacterial diarrhoea presents with high-grade fever
and blood in stools and vomiting” said Dr XXX.
So, at the onset of symptoms, home-based care includes oral rehydration solution to prevent
the complication of dehydration. Consult the doctor for further management of the symptoms.
“For the management of gastroenteritis, in addition to ORS, zinc supplementation and
probiotics are effective in controlling the diarrhoeas and increasing gut immunity. It is
mandatory for children under the age of 6 to take the rotavirus oral vaccine in any
circumstances as a preventive measure to avoid acute gastroenteritis. Also, prompt
consultation with the paediatrician is advised because even the milder symptoms can progress
to serious condition and complications within a short period,” highlighted Dr XXX.