Last Updated on March 21, 2023, 3:26 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Ministry of Health in the government of St Kitts and Nevis has initiated spreading awareness about Gastroenteritis. The medical condition is marked by irritation or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach and small intestines. This medical condition can affect anyone, whether a child or an adult. A germ or pathogen typically causes Gastroenteritis.
The most common cause of the medical condition is a virus. However, bacteria can also trigger it. Over the past weeks, several children and adults have been diagnosed with and treated for Gastroenteritis (GE) in St Kitts. Symptoms of GE include sudden onset of diarrhoea characterized by three or more loose or watery stools daily. Notably, the symptoms may or may not have other symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and fever.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health of St Kitts and Nevis has outlined some steps to identify Gastroenteritis. They have asserted that children affected by GE can quickly become dehydrated. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health of St Kitts advised the parents to monitor their children closely and seek medical care urgently in case of the following symptoms:
- If the child is under the age of 2 years, regardless of the symptoms.
- If the child is older than two years and has one of the following symptoms:
- Persistent or worsening abdominal pain
- Fever lasting for more than 48 hours
- rash
- Frequent vomiting for 4 to 6 hours after administering small amounts of fluids.
- Regular and abundant diarrhoea lasting for more than seven days
- Frequent diarrhoea if the child is under six months
- Worsening of child’s general health
Additionally, the Ministry of Health of St Kitts advised the parents to take their child straight to the emergency room if they have one of the following symptoms:
- Refuse to drink water for an extended period, more than 4 to 6 hours
- Moderate to severe signs of dehydration
- Mental confusion, dizziness, or headache
- Blood in the vomit or stool
- Black stools
- Vomit is bright green.
- The child has a chronic disease, a weakened immune system or an immunodeficiency disorder AND has a temperature higher than 38.5 °C (101.3 °F)
Meanwhile, The Ministry of Health St Kitts and Nevis noted that the adults should go straight to the emergency room if one of the following situations applies:
- A lot of blood in the stool, or the stool is black
- Diarrhea with intense abdominal pain
- Diarrhea with extreme thirst and no urination for extended periods (over 12 hours)
- Frequent vomiting showing no signs of a slow down after 4 to 6 hours
- Stool or blood (red or resembling coffee grounds) in vomit
- Deterioration of general health (weakness, drowsiness, irritability, confusion)
The St Kitts Ministry of Health shared that Gastroenteritis spreads when a person comes in contact with the vomit or faeces of an infected person, including:
• Person-to-person contact (e.g. shaking hands with someone who has been sick and has the virus on their hands)
• Contaminated objects (e.g. door handles, toys, utensils etc.)
• Contaminated food or drink
The Ministry of Health also shared the steps people can take to prevent the spread of the disease.
- Avoid contaminated water and ice cubes; there is no harm in boiling tap water before use (make sure it is cooled before drinking).
- Wash fruits & vegetables thoroughly.
- Do Not eat raw or undercooked foods (meats).
- Avoid contaminated food (especially when travelling abroad).
- Wash your hands often with soap and water (use alcohol-based hand sanitiser until you can access soap & water).
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
