what is stomach flu in toddler? How to treat it ? What are the casuses and preventive measures to be taken ?
Answers:
What is stomach flu?
Stomach flu (also called gastroenteritis) is a general term for a whole host of viruses, bacteria, and parasites that can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, and achiness. A virus is most often the culprit, the most common being the Rotavirus. In other cases, the cause is a form of food poisoning bacteria, such as Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, or E. coli. Still other cases are caused by parasites such as giardia.
Your child is most likely to pick up by getting infected fecal matter on her hands and then putting them in her mouth. (This may sound gross, but it happens a lot, especially among young children in daycare situations. Remember that these are microscopic bugs, so even when hands don't look dirty, they may be covered with nasty germs.) Symptoms usually appear within four to 48 hours of exposure and usually last for a day or two but can continue in severe cases for up to seven days.
Viral gastroenteritis is the second most common illness in the United States after upper respiratory infections (such as colds). Before the age of 3, the average child will come down with the stomach flu at least two times a year, more often if she's in daycare. The encouraging news is that, once a child graduates from toddlerhood to preschool or school age, she usually enjoys a boost in her immunity and won't contract stomach bugs as often.
How should I treat stomach flu?
In most cases, you can manage your child's stomach bug by keeping her home to rest and by replacing the lost fluids and electrolytes (salt and minerals) that her body is expelling via the diarrhea and vomiting. (She probably won't be able to eat much.) Usually, doctors recommend giving an over-the-counter oral electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte, to a child with moderate to severe gastroenteritis by offering her small sips frequently throughout the day. (These solutions also come in popsicle form), If you're concerned, call your doctor to discuss exactly how you should give fluids to your child; it will depend on a number of factors, such as her age and weight.
Avoid giving your child juices, sodas, and Jell-O because they can make her symptoms worse. (Gastroenteritis can temporarily damage the lining of the small intestine, making it difficult to digest foods with a high sugar content.) Your doctor may also suggest you avoid giving your child milk because a minority of children will also have trouble digesting dairy products, but most will not. Some doctors say to avoid Gatorade as well, but others okay it for children, especially those over 3, if it's the only liquid they'll take. Again, talk to your doctor; every case is different. If your child has a fever or is achy, you can give her children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
For a more mild case of gastroenteritis, say, with diarrhea but no vomiting, your child can continue to eat modest amounts of food and drink throughout the course of her stomach bug and probably won't require oral electrolyte solution; she'll need to keep drinking liquids like water and milk to stay hydrated. Never give her an anti-diarrhea medication because it'll just prolong her illness and can have potentially serious side effects. In most cases, with a few exceptions, there's no medicine to treat viral gastroenteritis. It simply needs to be managed closely and run its course.
When can my child go back to eating normally?
Once your child's vomiting and diarrhea lessens or stops, and her appetite returns, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop giving her the electrolyte solution as you slowly reintroduce other beverages as well as foods. Follow your child's cues; she'll let you know when she feels hungry. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children with gastroenteritis resume a normal diet (staying away from fatty foods) as soon as possible. That includes such staples as complex carbohydrates (like breads, cereals, and rice), lean meats, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Take note that this is different from the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) that doctors used to prescribe. "The BRAT was once very commonly advocated, but we no longer recommend it because it lacks certain vital nutrients, such as protein," says William John Cochran, associate professor of pediatrics at the Geisinger Clinic in Danville, Pennsylvania. Studies show that reintroducing a standard diet soon after acute symptoms ease can actually shorten the bout of a child's gastroenteritis by half a day because it restores essential nutrients to the system that are necessary to fight infection. On the other hand, if your child misses a few days' worth of good nutrition because her bug just kills her appetite, don't worry. As long as she's hydrated, she'll be fine.
How do I know when to call the doctor?
Call your doctor if your child experiences any of the following:
• a fever higher than 102.5 degrees
• vomiting for more than three days
• severe headaches or abdominal discomfort
• blood in the stool or vomit
• a swollen, hard belly
Also call your doctor if she shows any of the classic signs of dehydration:
• decreased urination
• excessive sleepiness or fussiness
• wrinkled skin, sunken eyes
• extreme thirst
• cool, discolored hands and feet
• a fever higher than 102.5
In such a case, your pediatrician might want to admit her to the hospital (or just keep her there for a few hours) for IV rehydration. If a blood or stool test reveals that your child has a parasitic or bacterial infection, she may be given a course of antibiotics. Don't be alarmed. Odds are, she'll be released and back to her healthy self within a few days' time.
How can I prevent my child from getting a stomach bug?
Since many cases of gastroenteritis are spread via unwashed hands, teach your child to wash hers thoroughly with warm water and soap after every bathroom visit and before meals or touching food. Same goes for you and other family members. It's also a good practice to encourage her to wash up every time she comes home from, say, a playdate, school, or a trip to the mall. What's more, be sure you follow safe food preparation and cooking practices.
Other Answers:
The stomach flue sucks.I have three toddlers and their symptoms were puking and a little fever.I suggest lots and lots of water even when they throw it up.and little bites of chicken noodle soup was able to stay down for my kids.Good luck!
My kids just had this 3 weeks ago. He actually caught the rota virus. He started throwing up Tuesday morning about 2 am. Kept on all through the night. Got up and called his pediatrician and told me to come in. by 10 am he had thrown up and pooped so much that he had became dehydrated. In 8 hours!! The ended up putting him in the hospital and he was there for 4 days. My son will be 2 in May. They sent me home with pedialyte after about 15 iv bags in his system. Usually the bug lasts 24 hours but can last up to 3-4 days. diarreah will usaually last a full 8 days. Be sure to lysol anything that is touchable. Take off all bed sheets, pillow cases any favorite stuffed anumals and wash them in hot water. Buy antibacterial wipes and wash their hand after each trip to the bathroom, diaper change eating and anything of that sort. Keep giving them tylenol for the fever to keep it under control. And be sure to keep diaper rash medice if need because thier poop can really scald thier bottom. All i can say is just ride it out because there is nothing to give them for this virus it just has to run its course so to speak. Good luck and i hope that you don't have to make a trip to the hospital like us. Just keep giving them pedialyte jusice or pops, anything you can get in them and don't try giving them food because it will make them sick, just focus on getting liquids in them. The doctor told me let them sip on 1 ounce per hour.
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