Gastroenteritis is caused by intestinal infection owing to contamination of food, water or hands. All health professionals should ensure caregiver education in the following main principles of prevention:
• Full and exclusive breast-feeding on demand: this protects against intestinal infections2 , 3 and prevents exposure to environmental contamination. Thriving breast-fed babies under 6 months of age do not require water supplements, even in hot weather.4 , 5
• Full immunisation including rotavirus vaccines: the new rotavirus vaccines are safe and reduce the severity of infection and prevent deaths, but they do not prevent all cases of rotavirus diarrhoea.6
• Provision of safe water for drinking and food preparation.
• Proper hand-washing hygiene after toilet use and before food preparation and feeding.
• Safe disposal of human and other waste.
Prevention of diarrhoea
Full and exclusive breast-feeding Evidence Level A
Rotavirus vaccination of all babies Evidence Level A
Proper hand-washing hygiene
Safe water
Safe disposal of waste