Gastroenteritis can occur in any group of people and it is important to eat the right amount of food to be able to meet the body’s energy needs and to help maintain water and electrolyte balance.
In the acute stage, those who are more ill can eat a liquid diet, such as thick rice soup, noodle soup or chicken soup.
In milder cases, a low-fat, semi-liquid diet with less greasy, soft and easily digestible food, such as white rice porridge, is recommended.
infant patients are advised to continue breastfeeding, formula feeders may choose to apply low lactose or lactose-free formulas. As children are in a growth spurt, it is recommended that additional supplementation of nutritional losses due to the disease should be made after the gastroenteritis has been cured
In older children, the diet does not need to be specifically restricted and cereals, meat, fruit and vegetables can be chosen as appropriate.