Avoiding a nasty case of gastroenteritis can be as simple as washing your hands.

Winter is traditionally the peak season for Gastroenteritis (gastro). Outbreaks can occur throughout the year but cases tend to rise during winter and early spring.

Hunter New England Health is warning people to take extra hygiene precautions to avoid getting and spreading gastro.

Gastro is a common illness which is caused by a number of different bugs. Viral gastroenteritis is more common in winter but bacteria and food poisoning can also cause gastro.
 
One of the most common causes of winter gastro is a virus called norovirus. Norovirus causes symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches.

Hunter New England Health Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim said norovirus is highly infectious and can be spread very easily from person to person. It can also be spread through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces.

“This is why the most effective way of avoiding viral gastroenteritis is washing your hands thoroughly with soap and running water before handling and eating food. You should also always wash your hands after using the toilet,” he said.

Symptoms of norovirus gastro usually last between one and three days, but sometimes longer. Sometimes vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and loss of appetite can make a person lose more fluid than they can keep down. This may lead to dehydration, which needs to be treated immediately.

Signs of dehydration include passing less urine than usual, increased thirst and dry mouth, sunken eyes, tiredness, irritability and deep breathing.

“It’s important to remember that babies can become dehydrated very quickly with gastro. Any baby less than six months old who has gastro should be taken to your GP or local emergency department immediately.”

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis are also more common within families and group settings including nursing homes, hospitals, childcare centres and schools.

Dr Durrheim said people who may have gastroenteritis should delay visiting family and friends are in hospital or aged care homes so that the virus is not spread to patients and staff.

“The elderly are also particularly vulnerable to dehydration. It is unwise to visit people in hospital or in aged care facilities while one has diarrhoea as outbreaks in these environments can more readily occur with devastating consequences.” 

“Children should also not attend childcare or school while symptomatic with gastroenteritis and should only return after being symptom-free for 48 hours,” he said.

Contact: Tanya Carlyle, Communication Officer

Phone: (02) 49 392 602