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Infectious Gastroenteritis in Children
Infectious Gastroenteritis in Children
Epidemiology
Common illness in children, causing each year: [1]
Etiology
Most cases of gastroenteritis in children are viral gastroenteritis. [1]
Parasites (e.g., Giardia lamblia) should be considered in children with persistent diarrhea.
Clinical features
Symptoms of infectious gastroenteritis in children are similar to adults and typically include:
o Nausea and vomiting
o Fever
o Abdominal pain
o Diarrhea
In children, additional clinical features that raise concern for severe illness include: [1]
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is usually clinical.
Consider diagnostic studies for infectious gastroenteritis in children with: [1]
o Severe gastroenteritis
o Immunocompromise
o Recent international travel or local outbreak
o Symptoms lasting > 1 week
Assess for signs of significant dehydration; if present, order diagnostic studies for
dehydration.
Appearance/behavior Normal 0
Eyes Normal 0
Mildly sunken 1
Extremely sunken 2
Tacky or sticky 1
Dry 2
Decreased 1
Absent 2
Interpretation
Diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis in children is usually clinical; diagnostic studies for infectious
gastroenteritis are not routinely indicated.
Differential diagnoses
Intussusception
Functional diarrhea [8]
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Differential diagnoses of acute abdomen by region
Pneumonia
Meningitis in children
Otitis media
UTI in children and adolescents
Toxic shock syndrome
The differential diagnoses listed here are not exhaustive.
Treatment
Treatment of infectious gastroenteritis in children is generally supportive.
o Probiotics are not routinely recommended but may reduce the duration
of diarrhea for immunocompetent patients. [2]
Give oral rehydration solution (ORS) if signs of moderate dehydration are present. [1]
When feasible, ORS is preferred over IV fluids; children unable to tolerate oral fluids can
receive ORS via a nasogastric tube.
Complications
Dehydration
Malnutrition
Electrolyte imbalance
Reactive arthritis
Secondary lactase deficiency
We list the most important complications. The selection is not exhaustive.
Prevention
See “Prevention of infectious gastroenteritis.”
Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced incidence of acute gastroenteritis in infants.
References
1.Hartman S, Brown E, Loomis E, Russell HA. Gastroenteritis in Children. Am Fam Physician. 2019;
99(3): p.159-165. pmid: 30702253. | Open in Read by QxMD
2.Shane AL, Mody RK, Crump JA, et al. 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical
Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Infectious Diarrhea. Clin Infect
Dis. 2017; 65(12): p.e45-e80. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix669.| Open in Read by QxMD
4.Friedman JN, Goldman RD, Srivastava R, Parkin PC. Development of a clinical dehydration scale
for use in children between 1 and 36 months of age. J Pediatr. 2004; 145(2): p.201-
207. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2004.05.035.| Open in Read by QxMD
5.Goldman RD, Friedman JN, Parkin PC. Validation of the Clinical Dehydration Scale for Children
With Acute Gastroenteritis. Pediatrics. 2008; 122(3): p.545-549. doi: 10.1542/peds.2007-3141.|
Open in Read by QxMD
6.Reust CE, Williams A. Acute Abdominal Pain in Children. Am Fam Physician. 2016; 93(10):
p.830-6. pmid: 27175718. | Open in Read by QxMD
8.Benninga MA, Nurko S, Faure C, Hyman PE, St. James Roberts I, Schechter NL. Childhood
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Neonate/Toddler. Gastroenterology. 2016; 150(6): p.1443-
1455.e2. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.02.016.| Open in Read by QxMD
9.Gordon M, Akobeng A. Racecadotril for acute diarrhoea in children: systematic review and
meta-analyses. Arch Dis Child. 2015; 101(3): p.234-240. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-309676.|
Open in Read by QxMD
10.MacGillivray S, Fahey T, McGuire W. Lactose avoidance for young children with acute
diarrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013. doi: 10.1002/14651858.cd005433.pub2.| Open in
Read by QxMD
13.Parashar UD, Nelson EAS, Kang G. Diagnosis, management, and prevention of rotavirus
gastroenteritis in children. BMJ. 2013; 347(dec30 1): p.f7204-f7204. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7204.|
Open in Read by QxMD
14.Heyman MB. Lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2006; 118(3):
p.1279-1286. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-1721.| Open in Read by QxMD