Gastrointestinal flu in babies – causes, symptoms & therapy

Stomach flu in babies

Stomach flu in babies is the colloquial term for gastroenteritis, i.e. gastrointestinal inflammation. This can have various causes and occur in adults, children and babies. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, depending on the cause, fever can also occur.

What is Stomach Flu in Babies?

Gastrointestinal flu is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by vomiting and diarrhea. The causes are varied and range from viral or bacterial infections to spoiled food to radiation and parasites . The disease usually runs its course without complications and heals on its own. However, complications can also occur, especially in babies, which require urgent medical treatment.

causes

The most common causes are viral infections, especially norovirus or rotavirus . Rotaviruses are the largest source of infection in babies and small children. Over the course of life, frequent contact with the virus strengthens the immune system against rotaviruses, and the disease is weaker or does not occur at all. This carries the risk of passing the pathogen on to others unnoticed as an adult without visible symptoms. Rotavirus spreads by smear infection , so the virus is primarily passed on through poor sanitation.The norovirus, on the other hand, occurs in different forms, which makes it difficult to develop a general immune system. In addition, the virus spreads through airborne droplet infection , making it easier to get infected. In addition to viral infections, infections with various bacteria are often the cause of gastrointestinal flu . Salmonella infections are probably the best known here . These are most commonly spread through animal foods contaminated with the bacteria and are therefore of lesser importance for babies. In individual cases, however, the pathogen can also be passed on by sick people.

Another well-known type of bacteria that causes gastroenteritis is coliform bacteria. Most types of this bacterium are harmless and occur in the human intestine. The best known are the bacterial strains ETEC, which leads to what is known as traveler’s diarrhea, and EHEC, which gained notoriety in 2011 as the cause of haemolytic-uremic syndrome , a fatal complication. Coli bacteria spread via both smear infection and contaminated food.

Clostridium difficile is a type of bacteria that also occurs in the human intestine and causes gastrointestinal flu if it multiplies too much. This bacterium often multiplies so much as a result of taking antibiotics and the associated disruption of the natural intestinal flora that it leads to inflammation of the intestine. Bacteria that play a rather minor role in western countries are Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and cholera bacteria . This is because these are primarily found in water, which is well controlled and treated in western countries.

However, not only bacteria themselves, but also the toxins they excrete and ingest through food can cause gastrointestinal flu. This form is commonly known as food poisoning and plays a rather minor role in babies. In addition to the causes already mentioned, radiation such as X -rays or radioactive rays can also cause gastroenteritis . However, these play a subordinate role in babies.

An example of a parasite that causes gastrointestinal flu is the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica. This causes the so-called amoebic dysentery, but is rarely found in Western Europe due to the very high hygienic standards.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of gastrointestinal flu in babies:

Symptoms and course are similar in all forms of infection . Because most pathogens spread through smear infection, i.e. are ingested orally and then migrate through the gastrointestinal tract, the disease usually begins with nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Severe diarrhea occurs later. Depending on the general condition of the patient and the nature of the trigger, different levels of fever can occur in all stages.

Diagnose

As a rule, the diagnosis of gastrointestinal flu is based on anamnesis , i.e. a questioning of the patient or, in the case of babies, the questioning of their parents. In most cases, uncomplicated gastroenteritis can be diagnosed. If there is a suspicion of a more serious illness, a stool sample is examined for possible pathogens.

treatment and therapy

Since most cases are uneventful, treatment consists primarily of relieving symptoms. First and foremost, attention must be paid to compensating for the loss of liquid . Babies who are still exclusively breastfed often compensate for this by shortening the intervals between meals. However, if the loss of fluid is particularly high, additional fluids in the form of tea or boiled water may be necessary. With tea, care must be taken to ensure that it is as mild as possible so as not to further irritate the affected gastrointestinal tract.

For babies who are bottle-fed, there are special healing foods that are tailored to the special requirements of mineral intake and are not irritating to the digestive tract. This healing food can also be prepared as a porridge. If the baby is already being fed with porridge, care must be taken to ensure that the ingredients used are as non-irritating as possible. Rusks soaked in tea have proved their worth as a household remedy.In addition, administration of fever-reducing medication may be necessary. If the diarrhea persists, you should see a doctor. The high loss of liquid and minerals must then be compensated for by administering special electrolyte solutions .

prevention

Prevention consists primarily in the strict observance of hygiene recommendations. Thorough hand washing can significantly reduce the risk of smear infections. Hygiene must also be observed when preparing food: water for preparing tea or bottles must always be boiled thoroughly; if you prepare porridge yourself, the ingredients must be cleaned well and cooked through. But even when eating ready-made porridge, attention must be paid to hygiene: opened jars should not be kept and reheated to prevent the pathogens from multiplying.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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