Children often experience the symptoms of vomiting (throwing up) and diarrhea (watery stools) at any time of the year. Although they often occur simultaneously, some kids have vomiting or diarrhea.
The most frequent causes of nausea and diarrhea are viruses, which are highly contagious from one person to another. Gastroenteritis is an illness brought on by these viruses.
The best approach to stop the illness from spreading is to:
- Wash your hands often;
- Wash hands before handling food and after changing diapers and using the toilet;
- Use soap and water to wash your hands (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available);
How to Control
Preventing dehydration manages diarrhea and vomiting (loss of too much fluid).
Drinking
- Make sure your youngster consumes enough water to avoid dehydration. They must consume the necessary fluids daily and replenish any loss via vomiting or diarrhea.
- Your kid is free to drink as much as they want if they have diarrhea but no vomiting.
- Your youngster should often drink modest quantities of fluids if they are vomiting. 5 mL of liquids should be given to your youngster every few minutes. Give them up to 30 mL of fluids every 5 minutes if they can keep it down.
- Give your youngster clear liquids, such as apple juice diluted with water or sports electrolyte drinks. Give your kid Pedialyte or another electrolyte maintenance drink if they show indications of dehydration.
Eating
- Allow your kid to consume wholesome meals that aren’t too heavy in fat or sugar if they have diarrhea but aren’t throwing up or aren’t throwing up anymore. They will heal more quickly if they eat.
- Give them modest quantities of food to consume gradually after they haven’t vomited for a few hours. Giving your kid fatty or oily meals is best avoided if they have diarrhea or have just puked.
- Give your kid no over-the-counter medicines for vomiting to control diarrhea or prevent vomiting, such as loperamide or dimenhydrinate (Gravol) (Imodium). Children may not respond well to these medications and may have negative side effects.
- Your kid has a minimal chance of acquiring additional health issues if they are not dehydrated.
How You Can Help
Wash your hands often, particularly after using the restroom, changing a baby, or handling food.
You may let your youngster eat and drink whenever they want as long as they are well hydrated.
- Give your kids portions of their favorite healthful meals and water.
- Increase your child’s hydration intake gradually.
- Reintroduce meals gradually, beginning with those that are simple to digest. This comprises mashed potatoes, boiled carrots, pasta, rice, cereal, and bananas.
- You may allow your youngster to consume the appropriate number of fluids for their age. Avoid giving your youngster contaminated liquids like soda.
- Wait 15 minutes before giving your kid fluids again if they vomit. Offer your kid modest quantities of liquid (5 mL or 1 tsp) every few minutes if they keep vomiting.
- Watch out for indicators of dehydration in your youngster. Seeking kids’ urgent care near you the soonest you see these symptoms would be best.
When to Seek Aid because of Vomiting
Consult your child’s family doctor or pediatrician if any of the following symptoms exist in your child: protracted vomiting or diarrhea; a fever (a temperature over 37.5 °C for more than 48 hours); an enlarged abdomen; or stomach pain that doesn’t go away or becomes worse.
If your kid has: dark green vomit, blood in their diarrhea, or both, go to the emergency room.
If your kid is a little dehydrated:
Your kid risks acquiring further health issues if they are somewhat dehydrated. It’s important to keep an eye on your youngster. Make sure they drink enough fluids and contact Health Link at 811 or your child’s healthcare practitioner to find out whether they need to see a doctor.
When your child is mildly dehydrated, they exhibit the following symptoms: extreme fatigue, difficulty relaxing, and irritability; a lower activity level (you can’t get them to play; eyes that may sink a little in the sockets; a dry tongue without much saliva in their mouth; some tears when they cry, but fewer than usual; a sunken soft spot on top of the head (babies and young children); and cool fingers and toes.
- You may determine whether your kid is dehydrated by tracking how often they urinate (or “pee”). If your kid has had a dry diaper for more than three hours (if they are between three and six months old) or more than six hours, they may be dehydrated (if they are 6 to 24 months old)
- They have not released pee in more than 8 hours (if they are 2 years and older)
- Wash your hands often, especially after using the toilet, a baby’s diaper change, and before handling food.
- Even if your kid is vomiting, keep providing fluids. You may feed your kid little quantities of simple food to digest after vomiting slows down or stops. This comprises mashed potatoes, boiled carrots, pasta, rice, cereal, and bananas.
- Increase your child’s hydration intake gradually.
- Give your youngster a Pedialyte-brand electrolyte maintenance drink.
- Wait 15 minutes before giving your kid fluids again if they vomit. Offer your kid modest quantities of liquid (5 mL or 1 tsp) every few minutes if they keep vomiting.
- Most importantly, you may need to seek pediatric urgent care.
Conclusion
The major goals of treating vomiting and diarrhea are preventing dehydration and keeping the patient comfortable. If your kid is vomiting or has diarrhea, please visit for children’s urgent care.
Children who visit Your Kid’s Urgent Care get excellent and practical pediatric urgent care treatments. Between a child’s primary care doctor and the emergency room, Your Kids Urgent Care acts as a bridge. Contact us if you need children’s urgent care.
