Gastroenteritis

Abstract

Gastroenteritis is one of the commonest of childhood infections. This is so throughout the world. Whilst the incidence of this illness has fallen steadily in the west, in many developing countries gastroenteritis is still one of the major killer diseases in children. The dramatic fall in fatalities in the west due to this infection is largely the result of improved hygiene and the energetic treatment of dehydration in children with an acute attack of gastroenteritis. Outbreaks of gastroenteritis still occur, however, in nurseries and schools, and there are isolated incidents in homes throughout the country, 50% of the cases occurring in children below the age of 5 years. This is especially so in the winter months when close contact amongst children is more usual than in the summer months.