Gastroenteritis is nothing to take lightly in a child. Over 1 million children in the world die every year due to dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea. However, if managed appropriately, your child can usually be back on their feet within a few days.

So, what can be done to prevent gastroenteritis? Gastroenteritis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. In children, viruses are most common. Hand-washing is key to prevention.  Parents can help by washing their hands when preparing a child's food and having children wash their hands prior to eating, after using the bathroom, and after playing in public places.

Vaccines are available to help prevent vomiting and diarrhea in children. Rotavirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in children and can be prevented with a vaccine that is administered beginning at 2 months of age. Rotavirus vaccines have proven to be tremendously effective in preventing infection. The hospitalization rate due to rotavirus infection has decreased by 85% since the first of the two current rotavirus vaccines was introduced in 2006.

Treating gastroenteritis means getting your child re-hydrated. What are the initial signs of dehydration? Decreased saliva, tears, and/or urine are all signs of dehydration. If you feel your child is dehydrated or if your child is vomiting and not holding down any fluids, your child should be evaluated by us. Please do not hesitate to make an appointment. Remember, as pediatricians, our goal is to get your sick children healthy again, so they can get back to running around and playing!

Thank you & have a great day,

Before you bring your newborn home from the hospital, your baby needs to have a hearing screening.

Although most babies can hear normally, 1 to 3 of every 1,000 babies are born with some degree of hearing loss. Without newborn hearing screening, it is difficult to detect hearing loss in the first months and years of your baby's life. About half of the children with hearing loss have no risk factors for it.