infectious diarrhoea in children

Last reviewed 01/2018

Infectious diarrhoea in children is a very common problem, most of which is viral, principally rotavirus.

The important features of management are:

  • recognition of more serious causes of diarrhoea, for example, if there is blood in the stool - ie the possibility of intussusception
  • appropriate treatment is usually conservative, antibiotics and gut motility inhibitors are rarely required
  • adequate oral rehydration at an early stage