What to Do When Your Kid Has the Stomach Flu

Recently my daughter came down with her very first stomach flu. Thankfully she has gotten better and returned to school but unfortunately not before passing it on to her little brother. Needless to say, it has been a rough two weeks. As with any new thing, I took this as a learning opportunity to research as much as I can about the stomach flu. Through a doctor, a nurse from Telehealth, a poison-control expert, and internet research, this is what I have learned.

• Stomach ache
• Decreased appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever

Your child may have a couple or all of the symptoms. The more symptoms your child has, the more severe the illness usually is and the longer it will take to get better.

• Yes, stomach bugs spread fast through fecal matter mostly, but also through saliva. Here are some ways to help prevent others from getting sick:
• Wash your hands often, especially before meals and after changing diapers and using the toilet
• Use hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available
• Do not allow your children to drink from the same cup or eat from the same plate
• Clean toys accordingly, especially when you have children that put toys in their mouths
• Do not send your sick child to daycare or school until they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours (children can remain contagious for up to 72 hours after they have started to feel better)

• Banana
• Plain rice
• Applesauce
• Toast
• Saltine crackers
• Dry cereal
• Pretzels
• Mashed potatoes (without butter and milk)
• Hard-boiled egg

Try each item one at a time and watch how your child’s body reacts.

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Fruit juices (including apple juice)
• Carbonated drinks
• Tea (Tea is a diuretic and can increase urination and therefore more loss of water occurs)

• Give your child clear fluids such as water, watered down juices, and broth. If your child has severe diarrhea avoid concentrated fruit juices and milk. Avoid carbonated beverages such as ginger ale and beverages with caffeine. Caffeine increases urination and therefore can speed up loss of water, especially if your child is vomiting or has diarrhea.
• Fluids should be given in frequent small sips rather than large amounts. Giving a lot at once can trigger vomiting and diarrhea.
• Pay attention to how often and how much your child is urinating.
• If your child is refusing water or fluids, try giving an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte. Otherwise, Pedialyte is not necessary.

• Decreased urination (If your child is in diapers, keep track of the number of wet diapers)
• Decreased saliva (inside of the mouth is not moist)
• No production of tears when crying

• You should take your child to see the doctor if:
• Your child has a fever for more than 3 days
• You notice signs of dehydration
• There is blood, pus, or mucous in your child’s stools
• The diarrhea becomes very severe (8 stools in less than 8 hours)
• Your child seems lethargic
• Vomiting lasts more than two days and is accompanied by diarrhea

• If your child has a fever or pain, use acetaminophen (Tylenol) according to the instructions
• Do NOT use Advil, Motrin or any other products with Ibuprofen as it tends to irritate the stomach
• Do NOT use Pepto Bismol or any similar bismuth products

• It is best to wash your child after each loose stool, to prevent irritations and rashes, especially if your child is still in diapers
• If your child is in diapers use a thick layer to Vaseline to protect and sooth the skin
• Change your child’s diaper often and right away after each bowel movement
• Once your child starts feeling better, give your child a probiotic yogurt. (Probiotic yogurts contain a healthy bacteria that can help replace the unhealthy bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract)
• Getting the flu shot, does not offer protection against the stomach flu
• Babies (one and under) should be taken to see a doctor if fever persists for more than two days or if diarrhea occurs for more than 24 hours. The risk of dehydration for children under one is much higher.