The physical symptoms of gastroenteritis are caused by the body's response to poisons or infecting organisms. The system attempts to expel them by vomiting and diarrhoea, the severity of which will vary according to the seriousness of the infection. In addition to diarrhoea and vomiting, other symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Stomach cramps
- Tender and swollen abdomen
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Lack of energy
- Blood or mucus in faeces
Diarrhoea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, which may display as dry mouth, sunken eyes, very little or no urine, irritability or mental confusion. The fontanelle in babies (the soft area of the scalp) may become sunken.
In general, symptoms should only last 2-3 days. If the patient does not show signs of improvement after this time, or if they have blood in their urine or faeces, or they display symptoms of sever dehydration, they should contact their GP immediately.
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