How long does stomach flu typically last in children. What are the most effective remedies for stomach flu in kids. When should you seek medical attention for a child with stomach flu. How can you prevent dehydration in children with stomach flu. What foods are best for children recovering from stomach flu.

Understanding Stomach Flu in Children: Causes and Symptoms

Stomach flu, medically known as viral gastroenteritis, is a common illness among children. It’s important to note that despite its name, it’s not related to influenza. Instead, it’s caused by various viruses like norovirus and rotavirus that affect the digestive system.

Children are particularly susceptible to stomach flu due to their tendency to touch shared objects and their less-than-perfect hand hygiene habits. The primary symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Fever (in some cases)

These symptoms can be distressing for both children and parents. How quickly do symptoms typically appear after exposure? Symptoms usually manifest within 12 to 48 hours after contracting the virus.

Effective Home Remedies for Stomach Flu in Children

When it comes to treating stomach flu in children, the focus should be on managing symptoms and preventing complications. Dr. Isabel Rojas, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Health and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, recommends two primary approaches:

1. Hydration

Maintaining proper hydration is crucial when a child has stomach flu. Why is hydration so important? Vomiting and diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially in young children.

Dr. Rojas advises using an over-the-counter rehydration solution. These solutions are specially formulated to replace both fluids and electrolytes lost during illness. How should you administer these solutions? Start with small sips and gradually increase the amount to prevent triggering more vomiting.

Can you make a rehydration solution at home? Yes, you can create a simple rehydration solution by mixing:

• 4 ¼ cups of water
• 6 teaspoons of sugar
• ½ teaspoon of salt

It’s important to note that water alone may not be sufficient for rehydration, particularly in younger children. Why is water alone not enough? Children lose significant amounts of electrolytes through vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dangerously low sodium levels in the blood.

2. Rest

Adequate rest is essential for recovery from stomach flu. How does rest help? It allows the digestive system to settle and heal, potentially shortening the duration of the illness.

The Role of Medication in Treating Stomach Flu

While it might be tempting to give your child medication to alleviate symptoms, Dr. Rojas generally advises against it. Why should medications be avoided? Since stomach flu is caused by viruses, antibiotics are ineffective. Moreover, certain medications may actually prolong symptoms or make them worse.

Is there any exception to this rule? The only medication Dr. Rojas recommends is an appropriate dose of acetaminophen if the child has a fever. Always consult with a healthcare provider before administering any medication to a child.

Dietary Recommendations for Children with Stomach Flu

Once vomiting has subsided, you can gradually reintroduce food. What foods are best for children recovering from stomach flu? Dr. Rojas recommends following the BRAT diet:

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

Why are these foods recommended? They are easily digestible and less likely to irritate the stomach. Other suitable options include crackers, and grilled or boiled chicken.

Are there foods to avoid? Yes, children should steer clear of greasy, heavy, or spicy foods for a few days after experiencing vomiting. Dairy products should also be limited due to the possibility of temporary lactose intolerance following a bout of stomach flu.

What about infants? Infants should continue breastfeeding or formula feeding if they can tolerate it.

Duration and Recovery from Stomach Flu in Children

How long does stomach flu typically last in children? The duration of stomach flu is usually between one and three days. Vomiting often subsides within 24 hours, although diarrhea may persist for a few days longer.

When can a child return to school after stomach flu? Dr. Rojas advises that children can return to school once diarrhea has stopped and they have been fever-free for 24 hours.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While most cases of stomach flu resolve on their own, there are situations where medical attention is necessary. When should you call your pediatrician? Contact your healthcare provider if your child experiences any of the following:

• Symptoms persisting for more than 5 days
• High fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Blood in vomit or diarrhea
• Signs of dehydration (e.g., infrequent urination, dry skin, lack of tears, rapid breathing)

Preventing Stomach Flu in Children

While it’s not always possible to prevent stomach flu, certain measures can reduce the risk of infection. How can you help protect your child from stomach flu?

1. Encourage frequent hand washing, especially before eating and after using the bathroom
2. Teach children to avoid touching their face, particularly their mouth, with unwashed hands
3. Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces at home
4. Keep children home from school or daycare when they’re sick to prevent spread
5. Ensure your child’s vaccinations are up to date, particularly the rotavirus vaccine for infants

Is there a vaccine for all types of stomach flu? While there’s a vaccine for rotavirus, which is a common cause of stomach flu in young children, there are no vaccines for other viruses that cause gastroenteritis, such as norovirus.

Long-term Effects and Complications of Stomach Flu

In most cases, stomach flu is a self-limiting illness with no long-term effects. However, in rare cases, complications can occur. What are potential complications of stomach flu in children?

• Severe dehydration: This is the most common and serious complication, particularly in young children and infants
• Electrolyte imbalances: Significant loss of fluids can disrupt the body’s electrolyte balance
• Malnutrition: Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea can lead to nutrient deficiencies
• Lactose intolerance: Some children may develop temporary lactose intolerance after a bout of stomach flu

How can these complications be prevented? The key to preventing complications is proper management of the illness, with a focus on maintaining hydration and seeking medical attention when necessary.

Are there any long-term effects of recurrent stomach flu? While most children recover fully from stomach flu without lasting effects, frequent episodes of gastroenteritis could potentially impact a child’s growth and development if not properly managed. Regular check-ups with a pediatrician can help monitor a child’s overall health and address any concerns.

The Role of Probiotics in Managing Stomach Flu

Probiotics have gained attention for their potential role in managing gastrointestinal illnesses. Can probiotics help with stomach flu in children? Some studies suggest that certain probiotic strains may help reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea associated with stomach flu.

How do probiotics work? Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help restore the balance of gut microbiota disrupted by the stomach flu virus. They may also enhance the immune system’s response to the infection.

Are all probiotics equally effective? No, different probiotic strains have different effects. Some strains that have shown promise in managing pediatric gastroenteritis include:

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
• Saccharomyces boulardii
• Lactobacillus reuteri

Should you give your child probiotics during a bout of stomach flu? While probiotics are generally considered safe, it’s always best to consult with your pediatrician before starting any new treatment, especially during an illness.

Emotional Support for Children with Stomach Flu

The physical symptoms of stomach flu can be distressing for children, but the emotional impact shouldn’t be overlooked. How can you provide emotional support to a child with stomach flu?

1. Offer reassurance: Explain that the illness is temporary and they will feel better soon
2. Provide comfort: Spend time with them, read stories, or watch calm, soothing shows together
3. Maintain a calm environment: Keep the atmosphere peaceful to promote rest and recovery
4. Praise their efforts: Acknowledge their bravery in dealing with the illness and following treatment
5. Address any fears: Some children may develop anxiety about eating after a bout of stomach flu. Gently encourage them to try small amounts of food when they’re ready

How can you help siblings understand the situation? Explain the illness in simple terms and involve them in age-appropriate ways, such as bringing a glass of water or a favorite toy to the sick child. This can help them feel helpful and reduce any feelings of neglect.

Stomach flu can be a challenging experience for both children and parents. However, with proper care, most children recover quickly and fully. By focusing on hydration, rest, and appropriate nutrition, you can help your child navigate through this common childhood illness. Remember to trust your instincts as a parent and seek medical attention if you’re concerned about your child’s symptoms or recovery.

Stomach Flu Remedies for Kids

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The stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis, is not to be confused with the flu caused by the influenza virus. The stomach flu is caused by viruses, such as norovirus and rotavirus, that irritate and infect the digestive system. It can be a common illness among kids, who may not be as good at washing their hands as adults and spend more time touching the same objects as other kids.

Unfortunately for little ones, the stomach flu can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Isabel Rojas, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, shares the best remedies for stomach flu in kids and ways to help settle your child’s stomach.

How do you treat a child’s stomach virus?

The best ways to treat the stomach flu in kids are hydration and rest. “For hydration, use a rehydration solution that’s available in any store and over the counter,” says Dr. Rojas. “Start with small sips and increase gradually, so they don’t vomit it up.”

Water alone may not be enough to rehydrate kids safely, especially younger children. Kids lose electrolytes when they vomit or have diarrhea. This can lead to low sodium in the blood, a dangerous situation. A rehydration solution, like Pedialyte, replenishes fluids and electrolytes. Broth can also be helpful.

You can also make a rehydration solution at home by combining 4 ¼ cups of water, 6 teaspoons of sugar and a ½ teaspoon of salt.

Dr. Rojas also recommends lots of rest for children. Rest can help the digestive system settle and heal.

Does medicine help the stomach flu?

Though you may want to give your child a medicine to help with stomach flu symptoms, Dr. Rojas recommends against it. Because the stomach flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help.

“Usually we just need to let the virus run its own course,” says Dr. Rojas. “Trying to take medications can prolong symptoms and make them worse.”

Dr. Rojas says the only exception to the no-medicine rule is the appropriate dose of acetaminophen if your child has a fever.

What do you feed a child with the stomach flu?

Once your child has stopped vomiting, they can start to eat foods again. The best foods after the stomach flu are the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

“These foods are very easy to digest,” says Dr. Rojas. “Children can also have crackers, or grilled or boiled chicken.”

Children should avoid greasy, heavy or spicy foods for a few days after they experience vomiting. Avoiding dairy could also be beneficial due to a transient lactose intolerance after stomach flu, though infants should still breastfeed or have formula if able to tolerate.

Certain drinks, like apple juice or carbonated beverages, can make vomiting or diarrhea worse, so it’s best to stick to rehydration solution or plain water.

If your child has nausea or vomiting again, it’s best to stop the food until their stomach can settle.

How long does the stomach flu last in kids?

A stomach flu usually lasts between one and three days. Vomiting typically lasts for less than 24 hours.

However, if your child’s symptoms continue for more than 5 days, you should call your pediatrician. You should also call your pediatrician if your child has:

• A high fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea or vomiting with blood
• Signs of dehydration like not urinating, dry skin, no tears or rapid breathing

With the right rest and rehydration, your child should make a full recovery in just a few days. Dr. Rojas says they can even return to school once the diarrhea has stopped and they have not had a fever for 24 hours.

The best ways to treat the stomach flu in kids are hydration and rest. Learn signs, symptoms and other ways to treat stomach flu in kids from an expert @Childrens.

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Pediatric Appendicitis

The appendix is a narrow tube of intestine that extends from the cecum. Appendicitis means the appendix is infected and inflamed. Acute appendicitis can cause abdominal pain and is the most common childhood surgical emergency.

What is Pediatric Appendicitis?

Annually, thousands of cases of pediatric appendicitis occur in the U. S, and it occurs in all ages of children.

The inflammation and infection of the appendix triggers obstructions of drainage and blood flow, leading to destruction of the appendix. Without intervention, infection can spread beyond the appendix, potentially resulting in peritonitis – a serious condition.

What are the signs and symptoms of Pediatric Appendicitis?

The most common symptom is abdominal pain, which may start in the area around the belly button and move to the lower right-hand side of the abdomen. Other symptoms include low-grade fever and vomiting. Symptoms might not show up in children. Delayed diagnosis increases the risk of rupture and its serious complications.

How is Pediatric Appendicitis treated?

The pediatric surgeons at Children’s Health typically remove the appendix using a minimally invasive method called laparoscopy. This procedure uses three small incisions and a camera called a laparoscope to look inside the abdomen during the operation.

A child whose appendix ruptured will have to stay in the hospital longer than the child whose appendix was removed before it ruptured. Some children will need to take oral antibiotics for a period of time specified by the physician after they go home.

Pediatric Appendicitis Doctors and Providers

• Adam Alder, MD

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• Nathalie Brewer, MD

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• Natasha Corbitt, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Diana Diesen, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Lauren Gillory, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Erik Hansen, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Barry Hicks, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Stephen Megison, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Joseph Murphy, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Samir Pandya, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Faisal Qureshi, MD

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• Mark Ryan, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

A CHILD HAS A STOMACH

How often do we hear from our children, “Oh, my stomach hurts!”. Children complain in the morning when they are going to kindergarten or school, and in the evening when they go to bed, and during meals with the words “I don’t want to anymore.” At the same time, parents react differently: who runs to call an ambulance, and someone brushes it off, “you always come up with something.” How not to be mistaken, what to do if the child complained about the tummy.

Children rarely lie just like that. Sometimes a child may say that his stomach hurts in order to attract his mother, without even experiencing discomfort in his stomach, but this is still an alarming bell, because he did not complain about his leg, head or something else, which means he periodically experiences pain or discomfort in his stomach!

Children of preschool and primary school age will complain of pain not only when they experience real pain, but also with flatulence (increased gas formation) and nausea and rumbling in the stomach and discomfort in the stomach. When a child says “I can’t do it any more, my stomach hurts” while eating, do not rush to scold him. He cannot say “I have a feeling of early satiety”, but most likely he has this particular pathological symptom, which occurs with gastritis, functional dyspepsia and other diseases.

If your child complains of abdominal pain in the morning, it may not be due to a desire to stay at home, but he or she has so-called “fasting pains”, one of the signs of gastroduodenitis, peptic ulcer. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to have breakfast, and not because he’s stubborn, but because his enzymes haven’t “woken up” yet. Feeding such children a “full” breakfast is not possible, and it is not necessary. Let the child eat a portion of yogurt with tea, and in kindergarten or at school (i.e. 2 hours after waking up) he will have a second breakfast.

The child may complain about the stomach when he wants to go to the toilet. More often this happens with constipation, when the process of emptying the intestines is painful. It may be that at present defecation in such children is already painless, but earlier, the stool was accompanied by severe pain and the child REMEMBERED this! Now the little (but not necessarily the little) little man has a fear – “it will hurt now. ”

What is abdominal pain and when does it appear. The sensation of pain is the body’s response to irritation of pain receptors located in the walls of internal organs (stomach, intestines) or a capsule covering an organ, such as the liver. When stretching the wall, capsule, inflammation, we experience pain. With spasm of the muscular organs, with pain in the abdomen, it is primarily the intestines, the receptors are also irritated and we feel pain. Abdominal pain may be due to irritation of the peritoneum – a sheet of tissue covering the internal organs of the abdomen. This is more often observed in acute surgical pathology, such as appendicitis.

The pain can be acute, when a person feels a “prick”, such pain is often compared with a “dagger pain” or dull – aching pain, of moderate intensity.

Pain can be chronic, when a person complains day after day, but not necessarily all the time. The pain can let go and return again, while the degree of intensity can be different from acute cramping to dull, barely distinguishable.

By localization, the pain can be diffuse – when the pain is the whole abdomen and localized, when you can specify the painful point.

Pain may be associated not with a disease of the internal organ, but with damage to the nervous system, both central and peripheral. With a tumor in the brain, pain can be in different places, incl. and in the abdomen, with pain often accompanied by vomiting. With autonomic dysfunction, abdominal pain may be accompanied by pallor of the skin, nausea, vomiting, and cold sweat.

What to do if your child complains of abdominal pain. Firstly, do not panic, talk to the child about how it hurts, where, while not forgetting that young children cannot localize the pain and will often point to the navel, even if they have pain under the ribs. Do not demonstratively neglect the complaint, even if you think that this is an invention of the baby. Talk to him, promise to give a pill, go to the doctor, do an examination. Never frighten a child with a visit to a doctor or any examination, in the future the child may be afraid of medical institutions and will hide complaints from you, which will lead to late diagnosis of the disease.

If the child complains of abdominal pain, ask when the child last pooped, maybe he is constipated. Parents should daily monitor the defecation of the child, not only for a preschooler, but also for a younger student, and at an older age, they should regularly ask their child if he had stool today, what consistency, if there were any impurities (blood, mucus, undigested food). Often parents do not pay attention to such an IMPORTANT physiological process as defecation, but given the frequency, consistency of stool, the presence of impurities, the doctor will be able to prescribe NECESSARY examinations (and not all that are in the arsenal of modern medicine), which will allow you to quickly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Of the drugs on your own without a doctor’s prescription, with the first pain syndrome, you can only enveloping agents and sorbents. If you give your child painkillers, an antibacterial drug or an antispasmodic (no-shpu), then you can blur the picture, and the doctor will not be able to make a diagnosis, which is very dangerous, for example, with appendicitis. It is better to call a doctor, let him look at the child, if necessary, prescribe tests and examinations.

In conclusion, I will emphasize once again. The child’s complaints of pain are always an alarming symptom. Consult a doctor, undergo an examination and you will not have to think that this is “inflammation of the abdomen or tricks”. Be healthy!

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A child has a stomach ache: why and what to do?

Parents often hear complaints from children about pain in the abdomen. Pain can be acute, chronic or recurrent (regularly recurring). During a certain period, the organs of the digestive system in children grow and develop especially intensively, namely during the first year of life, from 5 to 6 years and at 9-12 years of age. During this period, the formation of gastroenterological diseases often occurs. Functional disorders may occur, manifested by increased gas formation, spasms in the intestines, untimely bowel movements. Such pain manifestations are not dangerous. If negative factors affect the body, this can cause the progression of disorders and transformation into a pathology of a chronic course.

Factors provoking the appearance of pain in the abdomen

In children, the stomach may hurt on the background of:

• Worm-parasitic invasion. In addition to painful manifestations in the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite, changes in stool, and a rash may occur.
• Gastroesophageal reflux. In a child at an early age, such a disease manifests itself in the form of frequent profuse (fountain-like) regurgitation. In babies older than one year of age, it is accompanied by cough, otolaryngological diseases, damage to the enamel coating on the teeth, refusal to eat, hiccups and other signs.
• Helicobacter pylori infections. Pain in the abdomen is accompanied by symptoms such as belching, heaviness in the stomach, nausea.
• Constipation.
• Carbohydrate intolerance (usually lactose).
• Problems with bile ducts. In this case, the child complains of aching pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea, bitterness in the oral cavity and other manifestations.
• Intestinal infections, food intoxication.
• Intestinal pathologies of inflammatory nature.
• Gynecological diseases – adnexitis, ovarian cysts, etc. Usually these causes appear in girls in adolescence.
• Diseases of the chest organs – pneumonia, pleurisy.
• Diseases of the urinary system of an infectious nature. Accompanied by a violation of the urinary function, an increase in body temperature.

In addition, the stomach can hurt with chronic stress. The cause of stress lies in the following factors:

• increased school and extracurricular workload;
• increasing flow of received information;
• violation of the order of food consumption.

If your stomach hurts, you need to reduce the amount of food consumed, and food can only be boiled, stewed or baked. Fast food, marinades, smoked meats, soda, fatty, fried, spicy and salty foods will have to be abandoned.

If a child has acute abdominal pain, the first requirement is the exclusion of a number of diseases that are united under the concept of “acute abdomen”. This includes an acute disease of the peritoneal organs, which requires emergency care.

You should immediately seek specialist help:

• in case of acute painful manifestations that bother the child for more than 2 hours;
• for cramping pains lasting more than 12 hours;
• when vomiting occurs, including discharge mixed with blood and bile;
• when blood is found in the stool;
• when refusing food, and also if the baby does not allow touching the stomach;
• with localization of pain in the right side of the abdomen from below;
• if the pain appeared after an injury;
• if the child wakes up at night due to pain and cannot sleep;
• for abdominal pain accompanied by difficult or painful urination;
• with severe pallor of the skin, the appearance of cold sweat, fever, rashes, drowsiness and lethargy;
• for prolonged constipation, loose stools, absence of gas;
• with sharp pains that occur during eating or immediately after it.

Prohibited actions for abdominal pain in children

If a child has a stomachache, it is forbidden:

• to heat the pain area with a heating pad;
• give your baby a drink of painkillers, antipyretics and antispasmodics until you consult a doctor. In the case of primary pain in the abdomen, you can give the child enveloping medicines and sorbents.

Preventive measures

To prevent the occurrence of abdominal pain in a child, initially it is necessary to normalize the diet and eating schedule. To improve the digestive process, fermented milk products must be present in the children’s menu. In addition, you need to take care of getting the child’s body all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Moreover, the food for the child should be of high quality. It is necessary to exclude the use of sweet juice, soda and starchy foods in excessive quantities.

To maintain the health of the digestive tract, it is important to control the child’s diet and adherence to hygiene measures.