Thousands of Qld kids sick after spike in severe gastro cases

The number of Queensland children hit by severe gastro has almost doubled this year, with experts blaming health and hygiene complacency as one of the main causes.

Thousands of Queensland children have been struck down with rotavirus this year, nearly double recent averages.

Thousands of Queensland children have been struck down by severe gastro with one expert blaming health and hygiene complacency as its main cause.

The latest Queensland Health data has shown a spike in rotavirus with 2213 cases recorded from January 1 to November 27, nearly double the five-year average of 1256.

Rotavirus causes highly infectious diarrhoea and is particularly prone to hit infants and young children from six months to two years old, according to Queensland Health.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said the recent increase in rotavirus was not a public health concern and instead a return to pre-pandemic numbers.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Griffin said increased social gatherings, interaction and lapses in personal hygiene compared to at the height of the pandemic could have contributed to the spike.

Prof Griffin said people travelling in large volumes again could also have led to an increased number of people being hit by gastro-type illnesses.

Infectious diseases expert Prof Paul Griffin said he had noticed a rise in gastro cases.

“There’s a whole host of factors that’s causing it but I do think the limited interaction in Covid times … now that people are mixing again, gathering and catching up more than they were is contributing to an increase,” Prof Griffin said.

“Practices like social distancing and hand hygiene are waning. We still have things like hand sanitisers available but we are probably slipping as the perceived risk (of Covid-19) declines.”

The University of Queensland senior lecturer said people with symptoms should isolate, stay hydrated and even get tested so authorities could trace the virus.

The data also showed there had been 8513 cases of campylobacter recorded in the same time frame, up on the five-year average of 7703. Yersiniosis cases recorded a small increase however, the rates of cryptosporidiosis, salmonellosis and shingellosis all decreased.

Of the rotavirus cases, an illness which can be prevented through vaccinations, hundreds were recorded in the southeast pockets of the state.

Prof Griffin said people presenting with Covid-19 were reporting symptoms of fatigue, aches and pains, followed by fevers, headaches and respiratory issues.

He said a minority of people had presented with gastro symptoms.

“The main message is that it was great to see the simple preventive measures working, those things do have an impact,” Prof Griffin said.

The spokeswoman said the majority of rotavirus cases could be resolved without treatment and that people affected were advised to drink plenty of fluids.

“The virus can be passed from person to person very easily,” the spokeswoman said.

“The virus is in the faeces of a person while they have diarrhoea and for some days after the diarrhoea stops.”

The spokeswoman said “good hygiene” including hand washing could prevent the spread of rotavirus.