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Children
and stomach flu
Stomach flu
(gastroenteritis) usually is caused by a sudden viral infection that
brings on stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. It also can be
caused by bacteria found in untreated drinking water or contaminated
food. The symptoms of gastroenteritis are the body's attempt to cleanse
itself of noxious agents; they generally last only one or two days.
Stomach flu can be dangerous to infants and small children because of
rapid dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea. For this reason,
excessive vomiting or diarrhea should be watched carefully.
Sometimes, gastroenteritis presents itself in such a way that you may
suspect appendicitis. If your child is experiencing pain that begins
near the navel and moves to the lower right part of the abdomen, wait
three hours before you seek medical attention. If the pain increases
during this waiting period, it's time to take your child to the
emergency room.
Symptoms/Signs:
- Stomach cramps,
vomiting, nausea, low-grade fever, and diarrhea that usually lasts
less than two days
Consult Your Doctor If Your
Child:
- Has excessive vomiting
or diarrhea.
- Shows signs of
dehydration: increased thirst, dry lining of the mouth, dark yellow
urine, limited urination, and skin that may be wrinkled and have no
tone.
- Is suffering from
nausea, loss of appetite, and general abdominal pain is followed by
pain in the lower right part of the abdomen.
- Continues to have bouts
of diarrhea for more than two days, after a liquids-only diet is
followed.
- Has diarrhea that is
bloody or black.
- Continues vomiting on
and off for more than 8-12 hours without significant improvement.
Home Care Ideas:
- Provide crushed ice and
sips of water for the first few hours. After that, give your child
clear liquids for the next 24 hours.
- For breastfed infants,
continue feeding as usual, but offer oral rehydration fluids first.
For formula-fed infants, eliminate all but clear liquids (e.g., water
or oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte and Rice-a-lyte) for
24 hours.
- No foods for the first
24 hours.
- Slowly introduce
bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT diet) on day 2.
- Give your child
acetaminophen for fever. (Because of the risk of Reye's syndrome,
aspirin should not be given to or used by children or teenagers who
have or are suspected of having flu or chicken pox. Use
acetaminophen.)
- Do not give your child
anti-diarrheal drugs, unless recommended by his or her doctor.
- Bed rest may be needed.
- Make sure meats are
properly stored and prepared.
- Avoid dressings,
prepared salads, shellfish, (especially raw oysters), poultry and
other meats left out for more than two hours.
- Give your child water
only from sources known to be safe.
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