Stomach Flu in Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Do NOT give your child any medicines for diarrhea and vomiting without first checking with your doctor.
• Give the child an oral rehydration solution that you can buy at a drug, grocery, or discount store without a prescription. It has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar to replace the lost water. Some solutions come in fruit and bubble gum flavors.
  • Use the solution as it comes. Don't add water or sugar.
  • Give small, frequent feedings. Use a teaspoon, especially if the child is vomiting.
  • Give the child 1/2 to 1 cup of fluid for each diarrheal stool. Start with 1 teaspoon of fluid every 2 or 3 minutes. Then gradually give more.
  • Keep giving the child the rehydration solution until the diarrhea stops. Do NOT give this solution for longer than 24 hours.
• Do NOT give the child other clear liquids, such as apple juice, soft drinks, tea, chicken broth, or sports drinks, instead of the rehydration solution. They have the wrong amounts of water, salts, and sugar. Some even may make the diarrhea worse. DO NOT GIVE PLAIN WATER.
• If the child can't keep anything down, have him or her suck on ice chips to supply water to the body.
• If you are either breast- or bottle-feeding your child, continue to do so while giving the rehydration solution. Wait 2 to 3 days before giving milk to an older child.
• Continue to feed the child his or her usual diet along with the rehydration solution.
  • Good foods to give are cooked cereal, rice, noodles, potatoes, cooked meats, crackers, soup, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Don't give your child sugary foods such as soft drinks, undiluted apple juice, presweetened cereals, and flavored gelatin. Also avoid fried and spicy foods.
• Continue bed rest until the child feels better or until 24 hours after the vomiting and diarrhea have stopped.
• Check the child's temperature in the morning, at night, and every 4 hours during the day.
• Wash your hands after changing diapers and before fixing food. Have your child wash hands after using the toilet and before eating.
• Keep a supply of oral rehydration solution at home at all times. You should start giving the solution as soon as diarrhea begins.

Call Your Doctor If...

• Your child has a high temperature.
• Diarrhea or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours.
• You have any questions about feeding the child.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• The child's diarrhea or vomiting gets worse, there is blood in the diarrhea, or the vomit is bloody or green.
• The child is not drinking enough fluids and has signs of water loss: sunken eyes, less urination, no tears when crying, dry mouth, unusual sleepiness or fussiness, extreme thirst.
• The child has not urinated in quite a few hours.
• A high temperature continues to climb.

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Vital Signs: These include the child's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting heartbeats), and respirations (counting breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and lungs. Blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around the arm.
• Pulse Oximeter: Your child may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on the child's ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in the blood.
• IV: A tube placed in your child's veins for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in the hand or from the bend in the elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• Daily Weight: Your child will be weighed every day to check for weight loss.
• Strict Intake/Output: Your child's nurses will carefully watch how much liquid the child is getting and how much urine is passing.
• Activity: At first, bed rest may be necessary. Once the child is feeling better, he or she can get up.
• Medicines:
  • Antibiotics may be given by IV, in a shot, or by mouth to fight infection.
  • Anti-nausea medicine may be given to get rid of an upset stomach and keep the child from throwing up. This will prevent dangerous loss of body fluids.

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