Preschooler death 'unrelated' to gastro outbreak

Health authorities believe that the death of a preschooler on Sunday was not related to a gastro outbreak at his childcare centre on the lower north shore.

The child, whose gender and age have not been released, died in hospital, where several children from the centre have been recuperating.

Childcare Photo: Photo: Louie Douvis

Northern Sydney public health director Michael Staff said six children who attended the same childcare centre had been infected by rotavirus gastroenteritis over the past week.

Aged between 11 months and four years, four of the children were admitted to hospital after developing high fevers and vomiting.

Two of them had fully recovered and since been discharged.

"Tragically, another child who also attends the centre died in hospital on 23 October, but at this stage it appears unrelated to the gastroenteritis outbreak," Dr Staff said.

"The Public Health Unit is working with specialist paediatricians to understand the cause of death."

Managers of the childcare centre were working with the Northern Sydney public health unit to ensure appropriate measures were taken to avoid the spread of infectious illnesses and parents had been given information and advice, he said.

Gastroenteritis, which is marked by vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain, is a common disease in children, but outbreaks are usually more prevalent in the winter months.

Rotavirus is the most common cause, and almost all children have been infected by the virus by the time they reach the age of five.

It is spread through contact with the vomit or faeces of an infected person, either directly or on contaminated objects, and symptoms typically occur two days after exposure.

Death from the virus is rare, but hospitalisations are common, particularly among children aged under two.

Parents at the centre told Channel Nine that children affected in the recent outbreak had been sick for seven days.