Gastroenteritis (Gastro)

• Gastroenteritis is a short-term illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system. Symptoms can include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

• Some of the causes of gastroenteritis include viruses, bacteria, bacterial toxins, parasites, particular chemicals, and some drugs.

• Good old-fashioned handwashing with soap and water is still the best defence against spreading the bug. It has been shown that hand sanitiser is not effective in killing some gastroenteritis diseases that handwashing and soap does kill.

• Clean kitchen tops, toys, toilet seats, door handles, food utensils nappy change tables and taps to ensure you don’t spread the infection to others at home.

• Do not share cups, water bottles or food utensils.

• If your student, you, or anyone in your household is ill, make sure that they stay home for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped to ensure you are clear of infection.

• Please ensure that you seek help if you are not improving or are severely unwell.

For assistance please call:

• Your local GP (doctor)
• National Home Doctor Service – after ours and weekends ph. 13SICK (137425)
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 606 024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• Your local council health department
• Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, Department of Health and Human Services Victoria Tel. 1300 651 160

For further information please look up Gastroenteritis on The Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/gastroenteritis?viewAsPdf=true#bhc-content

(Content adapted from the Better Health Channel – Gastroenteritis).