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Dr. Khalid Al-D'ajam, a pediatric consultant and Head of the Pediatrics Department at King Fahd Medical City, revealed the prevalence of gastroenteritis in summer season, which is usually accompanied by acute diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or all of them together.

Al-D'ajam attributed the prevalence of gastroenteritis due to viral or bacterial infections in this season, pointing out that the viral infections are the most common, especially the so-called "Rotavirus" as it is remains in the child body from 3 to 6 days.

About the prevention of infection of these viruses, Al-D'ajam emphasized that the parents or the escorts must wash their hands and the area of diarrhea in the child to prevent the transmission of symptoms to the rest of the children close to the infected child, stressing that parents must monitor their child well to prevent dehydration due to the loss of fluids which caused by symptoms of diarrhea or vomiting.

The pediatric consultant advised to compensate the infected children must with a lot of fluids, warning of the danger of giving them high-sugar foods because this would increase the symptoms of the disease and delay recovery.

About the appropriate nutrition for the infected children, Al-D'ajam preferred to give them special quality of foods and fluids, such as white non-sweet yogurt, banana, black tea without sugar, white rice and white toast, in addition to providing them with rehydration solution in any quantity, and antipyretic and measuring temperature constantly.

He added "There is no need to go to the hospital except in some cases, such as: non-response to eat anything by mouth, in case of high temperature and non-response to the antipyretic, if the diarrhea accompanied by acute dryness and syncope or blood in the stool, if there are convulsions or movement disorders in the child.