Viral gastroenteritis cases jump in New South Wales

New South Wales residents are being warned of rising gastroenteritis cases as hundreds of thousands of students prepare to head back to school next week.

Health authorities say testing and hospital data is showing a significant rise in cases in recent weeks across the state.

The increase is being driven by two pathogens which commonly cause vomiting and diarrhoea - rotavirus and norovirus.

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Rotavirus can be particularly severe in young children, while norovirus is common cause of outbreaks in residential aged care facilities, schools and childcare centres.

Director of NSW Health's One Health branch Keira Glasgow said it was important to reduce the spread of gastro before schools returned.

"Last week, there were more than 2700 presentations to NSW emergency departments with symptoms of gastroenteritis. Presentations were particularly high in children who are under five years of age," she said.

"The message to the community is clear – simple measures can help stop the spread of gastro.

"Maintaining good hand hygiene and keeping children at home when they are unwell will give us a good chance to slow the spread."

Viral gastroenteritis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches.

They can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, and sometimes longer.

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