Gastro cases increasing with more children hospitalised

Cases of a severe gastro bug that kids are vulnerable to have doubled from, with one expert issuign a stern warning as more children become hospitalised.

Cases of a severe gastro virus that kids are more susceptible to have doubled from the year before amid warnings more children are being hospitalised with the illness.

Queensland Health Data shows from January 1 to March 19 there were 287 cases of Rotavirus, while in the same period for 2022 there were 129 and in 2021 there were 75.

Emergency presentations with a diagnosis of Gastroentiritis or similar gastrointestinal disorders from January 1 to February 28 was 6,496.

Mater Health Services infectious diseases director Paul Griffin said more children were being hospitalised.

“We certainly have seen an increase over the last few months, there’s been a lot of resurgence,” he said.

Rotavirus is a virus spread faecol from hand to mouth and grows in the gut.

“All those same measures that protected everyone from Covid. When we look at Gastro, the main thing is hand hygiene, people interacting less also reduce the amount of gastro.

Griffith University Infectious Diseases and Immunology Menzies Health Institute program director Nigel McMillan said rotavirus was more of a worry for children.

“Rotavirus is a virus spread faecol from hand to mouth, it’s a virus that grows in the gut, it can give you quite severe dehydration, before we had vaccines it caused a lot of death,” he said.

“It is preventable because of the vaccine but it can be quite a dangerous virus for kids, because it rapidly dehydrates them.

While not all of them will end up in hospital, he said it was important children get vaccinated to prevent it.

“Kids are much more susceptible and also much also older adults, if they get supportive treatments, fluids these can be easily handled but that means hospitalisation,” he said.

Another gastro variant running rampant is Campylobacter with 2453 cases to March 19 and 2030 from the same period in 2022.

Infectious diseases expert Associate Professor Paul Griffin. Pic: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“It is a bacterial infection, it’s really important that when you store and handle poultry in your kitchen and your fridge you do it carefully, because uncooked poultry can be contaminated,” Infectious Diseases paediatrician Robert Booy said.

“It can leads to outbreaks in preschool, daycare centres and a minority of children will require hospitalisation.

A Queensland Health spokesman said severe cases should seek immediate medical attention.

“Most gastro cases resolve without treatment, however it is very important for an affected person to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration,” he said.

“To prevent the spread, ensure good overall hygiene. Hands should be washed thoroughly with warm soapy water, rubbing them together for at least 20 seconds and dried thoroughly on a disposable or clean towel after going to the toilet, before preparing or handling food and after changing soiled linen.”