From the Triage Desk

Watching your child struggle through stomach upset can be challenging. We have all experienced the unpleasant symptoms of a stomach virus and wish we could shield our own children from it. The good news is most stomach viruses are short-lived and can be managed at home with some simple interventions. In some cases, a visit to the office or the Emergency Department may be warranted.

First things first. Whenever vomiting or diarrhea is occurring, we want to make sure our children stay hydrated. The younger/smaller they are, the more quickly loss of fluids can affect them. If your child is struggling to hold anything down, try a teaspoon trial. Give 1 teaspoon of water to your child every 15 minutes for an hour. If they can hold that down, gradually increase the amount of fluid over the next hour. You can use Pedialyte or Pedialyte pops as a fluid replacement as well. Children should be urinating at least once every 6-8 hours and able to make tears. If at any point this is no longer the case, call the office right away or take them to the Emergency Department as they will likely need fluid replacement and evaluation.

Stick with bland foods. If your child is finally able to hold fluids down and hasn’t vomited in a few hours, you can re-introduce solid foods. Whether your child has recently been vomiting or is currently experiencing diarrhea, bland and binding foods are best. Try toast, crackers, bananas, applesauce, dry cereal, rice, etc. You can also start them on a probiotic to help replace good bacteria in the intestinal tract. We recommend Culturelle for Kids.

Monitor colors. If your child’s vomit is bright yellow or green or if stool is black or bloody, they need to be evaluated. Avoid over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol or Imodium as these can mask more serious symptoms.

Report other symptoms occurring simultaneously. If your child has a fever (especially one that is not responding to fever-reducing medications) and is also vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, let us know. If they have had respiratory symptoms that have led to coughing so hard that they vomit, please report that as well. If they have eaten something new and are experiencing stomach upset, especially with a rash or facial swelling, seek medical attention as they may be experiencing an allergic reaction. It is important for our providers to have a complete picture of what is happening to determine the root cause of the illness. If your child is ever experiencing abdominal pain (typically on the lower right side) that has them doubled over or unable to jump or walk, please let us know right away or bring them to the Emergency Department to evaluate for appendicitis.

Avoid the spread of germs. Encourage good hand hygiene and do not share utensils or cups with a person who is ill. Disinfect surfaces and wash all dishes/silverware in the dishwasher or in very hot, soapy water. And please – keep your child home when they are sick!

Remember, we are always here to help! When in doubt, give the office a call.

Stay well!