Gastroenteritis

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 passed . You or your child should also avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.
Ensure you and your child wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water , particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food. Don't rely on alcohol hand gels, as they're not always effective.
Disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated. It's best to use a bleach-based household cleaner.
Wash contaminated items of clothing or bedding separately on a hot wash.
Don't share towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils while you or your child is ill.
Flush away any poo or vomit in the toilet or potty and clean the surrounding area.
Practice good food hygiene. Make sure food is properly refrigerated, always cook your food thoroughly, and never eat food that is past its use-by date read more about preventing food poisoning .

Take extra care when travelling to parts of the world with poor sanitation, as you could pick up a stomach bug. For example, you may need to boil tap water before drinking it.

Young children can have the rotavirus vaccination when theyre two to three months old, which can reduce their risk of developing gastroenteritis.

and food and water safety abroad .

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for gastroenteritis

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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