Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is a kind of infection
in the digestive system, especially the stomach and
intestines. Causes for this condition are parasite,
bacteria, or virus infection spread through contaminated
food and fluids. It can also be caused by certain toxins
present in some plants & seafood, usage of powerful
laxatives in order to cure constipation or because of
intake of poisonous heavy metal or food. The problem
starts with stomach upset and cramps. The child shows
disinterest in eating and feels week. Symptoms of
stomach flu are diarrhea and vomiting, which take nearly
five days to go away. Sometimes, even fever can
accompany along with dehydration.
The child must be given fluids regularly as this will
suppress other symptoms from emerging because of loss of
water from the body. Loss of water and salt from the
body is the biggest risk in stomach flu. Dehydration can
not only worsen the condition, but can threaten the life
of the child, if it isn’t taken care of in the early
stages. Since there is loss of salts along with the loss
of water from the body, plain water won’t do much. Oral
rehydration solutions which are available at the local
grocery or drug store, is a good idea because it has the
correct combination of salts, sugar and water which can
hydrate the body. These fluids come in different flavor,
so that kids can have their favorite flavor and is easy
to consume. The solution shouldn’t be added with
anything else such as sugar or water.
If a child is vomiting, solution can be administered to
him using a teaspoon every two minutes. The quantity can
be increased gradually. If the vomiting is more
frequent, the child can be made to suck ice chips in
order to supply constant fluid to the body. The solution
should be given till diarrhea comes to a halt, but it is
not advisable to continue it for more than twenty four
hours. Some of the fluids such as soft drinks, sports
drink, apple juice, tea, or chicken broth contain wrong
amounts of salt, sugar & water and can make matter
worse. Besides fluids, the parent shouldn’t give any
type of medicine without consulting a pediatrician.
Fried, spicy and sugary foods aren’t good in this
condition. If the child isn’t receiving sufficient
amount of fluids he/she will show signs such as sunken
eyes, dry mouth, intense thirst, unusual sleep patterns,
and decrease in urine.
The more the bed rest taken by the child the better it
is. The child should take complete bed rest for at least
twenty four hours or till the diarrhea and vomiting
stops. If the child has fever, the temperature should be
checked and noted in a log, every four hours. If the
temperature is very high and doesn’t stop climbing, the
doctor should be contacted immediately. The person who
is preparing and serving food to the child should wash
his or her hands very carefully before doing so. Also,
if the diarrhea and vomiting doesn’t stop after twenty
four hours, it is a must to get a doctor’s appointment.
The child should be rushed into emergency if the
vomiting contains blood or green color substance.
The doctor, after doing stool and blood test, prescribes
antibiotics if infection is suspected. Along with it,
anti nausea medicines are also given to stop the
throwing up and control fluid loss. If there is
considerable loss of fluids from the child’s body, the
child might be admitted into the hospital and will be
administered with fluids such as glucose or IV, through
a tube connected to the child’s veins. If the child has
fever, temperature is checked and the doctor would ask
about information about the temperature pattern, for
which the parent should be ready. If the illness is
stretched for days, a log about the information about
the daily weight should also be given to the doctor.
Sometimes, the blood oxygen levels would also have to be
checked with the help of a pulse oximeter.