How To Help Toddler With Stomach Bug

What Is The Treatment For Stomach Flu In Toddlers

The treatment depends on the fundamental cause of stomach flu. The following medications help cure the infection:

• Rehydration salts help restore the essential salts lost by the body through diarrhea.
• If bacteria are the cause of the infection, then the doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
• Anti-parasitic medicines work against parasites and protozoans.
• Analgesic medicines help subdue the pain and discomfort caused by gastroenteritis. They also work in reducing the fever.

Usually, rehydration salts are the only remedy suggested for gastroenteritis. Medical experts state that the only treatment your child will probably need is bed rest and plenty of fluids. Read more about how to care for the baby at home.

What To Feed Your Child After A Stomach Virus

Though many symptoms of the viruses improve within 24-48 hours, it sometimes takes up to a week for the stomach and intestines to fully recover, and re-introducing foods at the right time can help to prevent further irritation. So find out the rules for re-feeding here.

Along with the winter dip in temperatures, also comes a rise in seasonal viruses. With a widespread flu outbreak this year, children are at an even higher risk of coming in contact with a virus that will keep them from school. Though the occasional stomach virus is likely inevitable, knowing what to feed your child shortly after a virus can help them bounce back and recover more quickly.

A viral gastroenteritis, or “stomach flu”, occurs when a virus infects the lining of the stomach and/or small intestine, causing symptoms of nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fatigue. After prolonged vomiting and diarrhea, the lining of the stomach and intestines become irritated, and change the ability of the body to digest and absorb food and beverages.

Though many symptoms of the viruses improve within 24-48 hours, it sometimes takes up to a week for the stomach and intestines to fully recover, and re-introducing foods at the right time can help to prevent further irritation.

The rules for re-feeding:

What Are The Symptoms Of Stomach Flu In Toddlers

The symptoms of stomach flu can take a day or two to develop . A toddler with stomach flu will display the following symptoms of the condition :

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Irritability and fussiness with a headache

Diarrhea and vomiting are among the first symptoms to suggest something is wrong with the toddlers gastrointestinal tract. Stomach flu can be risky, and for this reason, you must take the toddler to the doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Recommended Reading: How To Deal With Stomach Ache

How To Treat Your Childs Stomach Flu At Home

Ensure your little one takes in enough fluids so she doesnt become dehydrated. Dr Edinburg recommends only giving your little one clear fluids as milk can worsen symptoms. You can also make your own homemade oral rehydration solution. Mix six level teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt with one litre of clean drinking or boiled water. Let the solution cool down before giving it to your child. If your child is unable to keep any fluids in, try syringing 2 to 5ml of the fluid in until larger volumes can be tolerated.

If your child continues to refuse fluids or vomits, call your doctor immediately. While you can offer your little one plain foods like bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast to keep up her strength, oral rehydration should always be the priority when a child has stomach flu. Its vital to replace the important electrolytes your childs body loses when she is dehydrated. Avoid foods that are spicy, fried, and fatty, or have a lot of acid as they can make your little ones stomach problems worse. Its best to wait until your child can tolerate fluids before introducing food.

How Do You Treat A Child’s Stomach Virus

The best ways to treat the stomach flu in kids are hydration and rest. “For hydration, use a rehydration solution that’s available in any store and over the counter,” says Dr. Rojas. “Start with small sips and increase gradually, so they don’t vomit it up.”

Water alone may not be enough to rehydrate kids safely, especially younger children. Kids lose electrolytes when they vomit or have diarrhea. This can lead to low sodium in the blood, a dangerous situation. A rehydration solution, like Pedialyte, replenishes fluids and electrolytes. Broth can also be helpful.

You can also make a rehydration solution at home by combining 4 ¼ cups of water, 6 teaspoons of sugar and a ½ teaspoon of salt.

Dr. Rojas also recommends lots of rest for children. Rest can help the digestive system settle and heal.

Read Also: How To Rid Bloated Stomach

What And How To Feed Your Child When They Have A Stomach Bug

November 27, 2019 //

What you need to know about food and hydration when your child is throwing up and/or has diarrhea from a stomach bug.

Weve ALLLL been there. The dreaded stomach bug. Tis the season! When your child gets sick with a stomach bug, life gets derailed. All of a sudden, schedules get rearranged, work gets missed, laundry piles up, survival mode kicks in, and all of your focus is directed to comforting and taking care of your little one .

Its inevitable no matter how much we focus on hand washing, immune-boosting foods, and getting enough rest, sickness is going to happen when you have kids. And more than likelyif you have multiple kidsit will make its way through your household. I hear youit sucks! But when a stomach bug hits, its important to know how to care for your child so that they can recover as fast as possible.

So, heres what you need to know about nutrition and hydration when your child has a stomach bug and is throwing up or has diarrhea:

Forget the BRAT Diet

Now, following the BRAT diet for a day or two wont do any harm. And if those foods are the ones that your child is craving, go for it. But the point is, its not necessary to limit your child to only BRAT diet foods. Its better to let your child eat whatever nutritious foods they want to or will eat. Theyre craving a bagel with peanut butter and jam? Great! They feel like soup or spaghettilet them have it!

Focus on hydration

Bottom line

You Forget To Be Vigilant About Sanitizing

Wrong Move You become lax about hand-washing and sanitizing once your child improves.

Better Bet Stay vigilant about good hygiene. The virus can remain in your child’s intestine for several weeks after his symptoms are gone. So have him sing “Happy Birthday to You” twice when he washes his hands to ensure he does a thorough job after every trip to the bathroom. If he’s still in diapers, scrub your hands after each change. Don’t share towels, drinks, or food with your child. And since germs can live on places like doorknobs and toys for several hours or even days, clean or disinfect them regularly.

Also Check: Why Does My Stomach Hurt After I Eat Certain Foods

Looking After A Child With Gastroenteritis

You can look after your child at home if they have diarrhoea and vomiting. There’s not usually any specific treatment and your child should start feeling better in a few days.

You don’t normally need to get medical advice unless their symptoms don’t improve or there’s a risk of a more serious problem.

To help ease your child’s symptoms:

• Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids. They need to replace the fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhoea. Water is generally best. Avoid giving them fizzy drinks or fruit juice, as they can make their diarrhoea worse. Babies should continue to feed as usual, either with breast milk or other milk feeds.
• Make sure they get plenty of rest.
• Let your child eat if they’re eating solids and feel hungry. Try small amounts of plain foods, such as soup, rice, pasta and bread.
• Give them paracetamol if they have an uncomfortable fever or aches and pains. Young children may find liquid paracetamol easier to swallow than tablets.
• Use special rehydration drinks made from sachets bought from pharmacies if they’re dehydrated. Your GP or pharmacist can advise on how much to give your child. Don’t give them antidiarrhoeal and anti-vomiting medication, unless advised to by your GP or pharmacist.

Make sure you and your child wash your hands regularly while your child is ill and keep them away from school or nursery until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared .

How Is Gastroenteritis Treated

There is no specific treatment for gastroenteritis, and most kids can be treated at home. Keep your child hydrated by offering plenty of liquids. Kids with more severe dehydration may need treatment in the ER or hospital.

Mild dehydration is treated with oral rehydration. This usually includes giving oral rehydration solution . It has the right amounts of water, sugar, and salt to help with dehydration. You can buy it without a prescription at drugstores or supermarkets. If you cant get oral rehydration solution, talk to your doctor.

If your child has mild dehydration and your doctor says its OK to start treatment at home:

• Give your child an oral electrolyte solution as often as possible. If your child throws up, start with small sips, about 1 or 2 teaspoons every few minutes.
• Babies can continue to breastfeed or take formula as long as they are not throwing up repeatedly.
• Don’t give babies plain water instead of oral rehydration solution. It doesn’t have the right nutrients for babies with dehydration.
• Older children can have frozen electrolyte popsicles.
• Do not give your child full-strength juice , soda, or sports drinks. These have a lot of sugar, which can make diarrhea worse.

When your child stops vomiting, you can offer small amounts of solid foods, such as toast, crackers, rice, or mashed potatoes. Yogurt, fruits, vegetables, and lean meat, like chicken, are also OK.

Don’t give medicines for diarrhea or vomiting unless your doctor tells you to.

Read Also: What Causes Severe Stomach Pain And Diarrhea

What Causes Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis happens when germs infect the stomach or intestines, causing inflammation.

In kids, viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Rotavirus causes many cases of stomach flu in children, but the rotavirus vaccine can help prevent them.

Many of the germs that cause gastroenteritis spread easily. So someone can get sick if they:

• Touch something contaminated and then touch food or their mouth.
• Live with someone whos infected, even if that person isnt sick.

Provide Plenty Of Fluids:

• Give your toddler small sips of liquids throughout the day. Do not let the child drink it all at once, as that can make them throw up.

• Babies who only breastfeed can have an extra feed of milk.

• Toddlers can have plain water as well as oral electrolyte solutions, also called oral rehydration salts , such as Pedialyte. Toddlers can be breastfed too.

• The amount of ORS you need to give your toddler depends on their weight. The World Health Organization suggests that you multiply the toddlers weight in kilograms with 75 to arrive at the volume of ORS you need in milliliters . Give the recommended amount of ORS over the first four hours. You can give more later if the child is still dehydrated.

• You can give the baby formula or breast milk, but avoid animal milk since the babys tummy can have problems digesting it .

You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Stomach Crease

Secondly Try To Avoid The Pink Stuff

Now letâs talk about the most common go-to for stomach bugs. Yep, you know that pink stuff called Pepto Bismal.

Although, it seems like the perfect remedy as it states on the box: nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea relief.

Sadly, that pink liquid is full of some other not so good ingredients that I would do my best to avoid if possible.

Along with having bismuth as the first ingredient, Pepto is filled with artificial dyes and flavors and other added ingredients I donât want to give to my children.

These stomach bug remedies for kids I am going to cover are a MUCH better choice when treating your toddler or child who has a stomach ache.

How To Prevent Stomach Flu

• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Get your child vaccinated against rotavirus.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before eating and after using the loo.
• Do not share personal utensils with an infected person until he/she recovers.
• Avoid drinking chilled water.
• Do not consume raw meat or raw foods like sushi.
• Disinfect all the hard surfaces at your home if any of your family members have gastroenteritis.
• Avoid sending your child to the daycare centre until they recover completely to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Get ample rest and sleep well.

As already discussed, there is no specific medical treatment for gastroenteritis. Rest and hydration, coupled with the remedies mentioned above, can help in speeding up your recovery from gastroenteritis without any further complications.

Infants and older adults who have stomach flu should be given extra care as this infection can prove to be life-threatening, given their compromised immunity.

Contact a doctor immediately if your symptoms worsen, or you develop a high fever , are unable to keep liquids down for more than 24 hours or exhibit signs of dehydration, vomit blood, or have bloody diarrhea.

Also Check: How Can You Neutralize Stomach Acid

The Symptoms Of Stomach Flu

If your child experiences any of the following, be sure to call his or her physician:

• Fever
• Persistent stomach pain
• Round, swollen stomach

Some of these symptoms may indicate that your child is experiencing more than a stomach flu or has started suffering complications of the illness. If symptoms last more than 24 hours, call your physician to ensure your child receives the medical attention he or she needs.

Reasons To Call The Doctor

Your child’s stomach will probably get better on its own, but speak to your pediatrician right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

Related Features:

Recommended Reading: How Much Stomach Is Removed In Gastric Sleeve

Should I Make My Child Eat

When your child is vomiting, you do not want to make them eat. That’s a very common misconception that I have parents make. They think, well my child’s vomiting. They don’t want to eat because they are vomiting, so I need to make sure they get food because otherwise they’re going to lose weight.

It’s okay, we expect your child to lose a little bit of weight with the stomach bug. Don’t make your child eat if they’re not hungry, because if you do make them try to eat something before they are ready, they are going to bring it right back up and you’re going to be cleaning it up. Just make sure they have small amounts of clear fluids and no solid foods for about eight hours once they start vomiting.

First Off Dont Be Quick To Reduce Your Childs Fever

To begin with, donât rush to the medicine cupboard and be quick to administer childrenâs Tylenol or Motrin to bring your childâs fever down.

If your child is running a fever, DONâT suppress it. Fevers are actually very beneficial in aiding the body to repair and heal itself.

If fevers scare you, donât worry, they scared me at one point too. But now I have a complete understanding and knowledge around fevers I donât fear them anymore and feel a lot more in control and at ease if my child has one.

Check this post out âReasons why a fever is good for your childâs bodyâ to learn more about why you shouldnât be scared of fevers and you SHOULD let them run their course.

Obviously, you must always do what you feel is right and do your own research and gain your own understanding. You can monitor your childâs fever and if absolutely necessary I do prefer dye-free childrenâs Motrin over Tylenol.

With that being said, it is known that ibuprofen can be harder on the stomach, which in this case I would do my best to avoid all OTC medicines where I can or use a homeopathic fever reducer.

Recommended Reading: Why Has My Stomach Been Hurting All Day

Will My Child Need Any Medicines For Gastroenteritis

Do not give your child medicines to reduce diarrhoea. They do not work and may be harmful.

Your doctor may occasionally prescribe a medicine for vomiting. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

You cannot treat viral gastro with antibiotics. The body will clear out the virus on its own without treatment.

How Can I Care For My Child With Gastroenteritis At Home

If your child is over 6 months old and has mild gastro and is not dehydrated, you can care for them at home. The main treatment is to keep giving your child fluids. Whichever fluids your child is having, the important thing is to:

• offer small amounts of fluid often rather than giving large amounts – aim for a quarter of a cup every 15 minutes or 1 teaspoon or 5 mls in a syringe every minute
• keep offering your child fluids even if they are vomiting

You May Like: Why Does My Stomach Bloat After I Eat Anything