Symptoms of Gastroenteritis

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Gastroenteritis causes diarrhoea and vomiting. You may have a high temperature (fever) and cramping abdominal pain. Other common symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, lack of energy, and feeling tired or sleepy. Babies may refuse feeds.

Diarrhoea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, which happens when the body doesnâ€™t contain enough water. If you feel thirsty youâ€™re already dehydrated. Signs of severe dehydration include sunken eyes, dry mouth, very little or no urine, and confusion or irritability.

A sign of dehydration in babies is a sunken fontanelle, the soft area of the scalp. You may be able to feel this gently with a fingertip.

Symptoms usually last 2-3 days. If they donâ€™t start improving after this time, if there is blood in your urine or faeces, or if there are signs of serious dehydration such as mental confusion, contact your GP, Walk In Centre or Accident and Emergency department.