MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Safeguard your family against tummy bugs this summer with its heightened risk of your child contracting diarrhoea.

In the Mossel Bay district, 93 children were treated for gastro, of which 21 required admission to hospital. These figures are for the beginning of November until the end of December.

More than 430 children under the age of five were treated for diarrhoea without dehydration at health facilities in the Garden Route District during the same period.

A further 127 have been admitted to hospital for treatment. The Western Cape government health's annual "Paediatric Surge Season (PSS)" is from November to the end of May - a time during which health facilities see an increased number of patients suffering from gastroenteritis.

"Our staff are on high alert for patients, especially children under the age of five, that show signs of dehydration. Dehydration, due to gastro, remains one of the main causes of illness and death in children under the age of five years.

"We have an Oral Hydration Solution (ORS) corner in all our facilities, portable water bags have been distributed to crèches where access to water is limited, and we have integrated diarrhoeal health messaging at our well baby clinics, resulting in increased awareness. We also have fast lanes at facilities for babies and toddlers with diarrhoea," said Dr Helise Schumann, director: Garden Route and Central Karoo District.

Causes and prevention:
It is important to maintain a high level of hygiene to ensure that your family is gastro free this season.

Sadly, even with the best hygiene, many will still get gastro.

Try the oral rehydration solution to replenish lost body fluids. Take the solution with you should you need to take your child to the clinic so that your child does not dehydrate on the way. Using a clean 1 litre bottle, mix 1 litre of cooled boiled water with ½ a teaspoon of salt and 8 teaspoons of sugar. Mix well.

Signs of dehydration:

• Dry or sticky mouth
• Few or no tears when crying
• Lack of urine, or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine
• Dry, cool skin
• Tiredness and irritability
• Dizziness
• Headache and stomach ache
• Thirstiness

Statistics:

• In Bitou eight children were treated for gastro, and in the Knysna sub-district 47, of which 10 required admission to hospital.
• In George 122 children were treated for gastro, of which 30 required admission to hospital.
• In Hessequa, 12 children treated; four admitted to hospital.
• In Oudtshoorn, 109 children treated; 46 admitted.
• In Kannaland, 44 children treated; 16 admitted.

'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'