Gastro advice

Gastro is going around in the Port Melbourne community. Let’s help keep our school community healthy by taking a few simple precautions.

• Gastro is very contagious, it is important to practice good hygiene to stop the spread. 
• Children should be excluded from school for 48 hours after the last loose motion.

What is gastro?

Gastroenteritis (gastro) is an infection of the stomach and bowel. It causes vomiting, fever and diarrhoea (runny, watery poo).

The most important part of caring for a child with gastro is ensuring they drink enough fluids. Try giving your child small amounts of fluid often.

Is gastro contagious?

Gastro is very contagious. It spreads through contact with the vomit or poo of an infected person, for example, by touching someone who has recently thrown up or had diarrhoea, sharing contaminated food or drinks, or touching contaminated objects like toys. Gastro can also spread through the air when an infected person vomits.

Stopping the spread of gastro

Good hygiene is the best way to limit the spread of gastro. If your child has gastro, remember to:

• wash your hands thoroughly with soap or alcohol hand sanitiser.
• regularly wash and/or disinfect objects like toys, clothes and bedding.
• clean shared surfaces like tables and door handles.
• stop other members of your household from sharing items with your sick child.

It is a good idea to wear gloves and a mask when cleaning up vomit or poo. Use disposable cleaning products like paper towels and put them into a bag before throwing them away.

When can my child go back to school after gastro?

Your child can return to school once they feel better and have not had any diarrhoea or vomiting for 48 hours. However, they should not go back to swimming for two weeks after recovering to help prevent the spread of the illness.

Read the Gastro Factsheet on the RCH website.