my5 month old  grandaughter contracted gastroenteritis from another baby 5 months old but she did not touch the baby or go near the baby. She is now in hospital on a drip and her father is really ill with it too - how is this contracted, how long does it last and what can be taken?.
Thank you for your question. I appreciate your concern, especially as your granddaughter is an infant. From the history you have provided, it seems to be a viral, most probably a rota viral infection which is common among infants. It usually settles in 5 to 7 days, although a few loose stools a day can persist till 14 days. The main advice I give my patients is to not worry about the number of loose stools, but to look at the oral intake of fluids and feeds, how much urine she is passing per day and her activity. If any of the above three is decreased Chat Doctor.  I would suggest the following