Gastroenteritis in children

Abstract

Diarrhoea is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide.¹ It causes the death of about two million children under the age of five years each year.² Acute gastroenteritis results from infection of the gastrointestinal tract most commonly with a virus, the most frequent being rotavirus.³Campylobacter and Salmonella are the most common bacterial pathogens; Cryptosporidium and Giardia are the most common parasites that can cause diarrhoea. Chronic diarrhoea suggests a noninfective cause such as inflammatory bowel disease or coeliac disease.