Diarrhoea • THEME Acute gastroenteritis

in children Gastroenteritis (GE) is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, and is characterised by vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Acute diarrhoea is defined as the abrupt onset of increased fluid content of stool above the normal value of 10 mL/kg/day.1 In practical terms it is associated with increased frequency and fluid consistency of stools. General practitioners commonly manage GE in children. Parents or carers will consult a GP in up to 75 % of cases of childhood GE.2,3 A United Kingdom study estimated that an average of 10 100 new episodes of infectious intestinal disease in children aged less than 5 years of age are seen in general practice each week.