In recent weeks, there has been an upsurge in cases of gastroenteritis both in the emergency room and in private practice. A very contagious infectious disease, most often mild, but which should not be taken lightly, especially for the little ones. Here are the recommendations.
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The first cases of gastroenteritis appeared three weeks ago. The start of the school year has given a big boost to the number of patients. For the moment, the hospital is not saturated, but we must still remain suspicious, especially for babies under one year old, as explained by doctor Guiset, emergency doctor. “Gastro is characterized by diarrhea or vomiting or both, usually for 5 days, children under one can become dehydrated much faster than adults. There are drugs that exist in pharmacies called rehydration solutions.”
If the child becomes dehydrated, you should consult your doctor or go to the emergency room. It is necessary to worry when a baby is “very tired, has dark circles in his eyes, dry mouth, no more tears, seems hypotonic and very thirsty.” At this moment, ” either we manage to make him drink by mouth, or he vomits and he is infused in the emergency room, in hospital.“
CIn the case of a child who is over one year old, there is no urgency to consult immediately: it is better to rehydrate gradually, with apple juice in small quantities, for example. According to Dr. Marc Genton, two oral vaccines are available in metropolitan France but are not currently used in the territory.
For adults, it is advisable to eat easily digestible, well-cooked products with a little sugar water throughout the day. Symptoms last between 3 and 5 days. Above all, isolate yourself as much as possible and wash your hands!