[Click! Health] Infectious Enteritis Targeting Children... Prevent Dehydration with Hydration

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Infectious enteritis is a disease that troubles children during seasons when temperature and humidity are high, making it easy for bacteria to proliferate. Enteritis occurs more frequently in younger age groups. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of enteritis patients last year was 4,188,188, of which children under 9 years old accounted for 21.6% (902,836). Including teenagers (570,363), one in three enteritis patients is a child or adolescent.

Children’s Enteritis Requires Caution Due to Rapid Dehydration

The causes of infectious enteritis include bacteria (cholera, E. coli, dysentery, typhoid, Yersinia, etc.) and viruses (norovirus, rotavirus). Consuming food contaminated with these bacteria or viruses causes symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever within 72 hours. Sometimes, initial symptoms like headache, fever, and chills are mistaken for a cold, but after 1-2 days, they progress to abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Especially for children under 10 years old, prompt treatment is necessary when they contract enteritis. Adults may experience stomach upset and diarrhea, but enteritis usually does not progress rapidly and typically improves with symptomatic treatment. However, children are at higher risk because dehydration progresses quickly. If a high fever above 38 degrees Celsius persists for more than a day, diarrhea and abdominal pain are severe, blood appears in stool, or the child is unable to eat, it is advisable to seek hospital admission and treatment promptly.

Dr. Kang Gyun-eun, a specialist at H+ Digestive Hospital affiliated with H Plus Yangji Hospital, emphasized, “Children have less water and body fluids stored in their bodies, so even a small number of vomiting and diarrhea episodes, which are major symptoms of enteritis, can cause dehydration.” He added, “Especially in children, losing just 10% of body fluids can become a dangerous condition, so quick action is necessary.”

Thorough Hygiene Management and Adequate Hydration Are Essential

To prevent enteritis, it is best to cook ingredients thoroughly at high temperatures. Also, cooked food should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours and should be stored refrigerated or frozen. Fresh vegetables should be washed cleanly under running water and consumed immediately, and water should preferably be boiled before drinking. Cooking utensils should be disinfected frequently, and knives and cutting boards that are difficult to sanitize should be separated for vegetables and for meat/seafood to prevent cross-contamination.

Once symptoms of enteritis such as vomiting and diarrhea appear, it is important to prevent dehydration by sufficiently replenishing fluids with water, barley tea, electrolyte drinks, etc. Especially in children, even slight dehydration can cause severe symptoms such as a rapid decrease in urine output, so the condition should be assessed to determine whether intravenous fluid therapy is needed. If symptoms are severe, appropriate treatment should be received through imaging tests or stool cultures to identify the causative bacteria.

Dr. Kang advised, “To prevent children from contracting infectious enteritis, above all, hands should be washed frequently, and if a family member has enteritis symptoms, personal hygiene should be strictly managed by using separate dishes and toiletries.” He also urged, “Since enteritis has a high chance of recurrence once contracted, attention should be paid to dietary habits after recovering from enteritis.”