THE New South Wales Health Department is encouraging people to stay alert for symptoms of gastroenteritis (gastro), with testing and hospital data showing a significant rise in cases in past weeks.
One of the leading causes of viral gastro is Rotavirus, which can be particularly severe in young children.
The latest testing data shows Rotavirus notifications are at some of their highest levels of the last decade.
In the first two weeks of 2023, 197 cases of Rotavirus were detected in the community, which compares to about 40 cases during the same period of time on average.
Symptoms of viral gastro can take up to three days to develop and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches.
Director of NSW Health’s One Health branch Keira Glasgow said reducing the spread of gastro before school returns in the next few weeks is essential.
“Last week, there were more than 2,250 presentations to NSW emergency departments with gastro symptoms,” she said. “Presentations were particularly high in children up to 16 years old.”
“The message to the community is clear – simple measures can help stop the spread of gastro – maintaining good hand hygiene, and keeping children at home when they are unwell will give us a good chance to slow the spread before children are back at school together in February.”
Immunisation to prevent Rotavirus infection is recommended, and part of the childhood immunisation schedule.
Immunisation is free for children under six months of age, and the vaccine is given in two oral doses, at six weeks and four months of age, with the competition of the course by 24 weeks of age.
The main treatment for viral gastro is to rest and to drink plenty of fluids.
Most people recover without complications, but more urgent care may need to be sought for infants, people with suppressed immune systems and the elderly.
Advice for parents and caregivers include: Keep children experiencing gastro home, wear gloves and a mask when cleaning bodily fluids, wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap, immediately and thoroughly clean contaminated surfaces with hot soapy water.
