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

Understanding Stomach Flu in Children

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

Children are particularly susceptible to stomach flu due to their frequent close contact with other children and potentially less rigorous hand-washing habits. The illness typically manifests with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can be distressing for both the child and their caregivers.

Why are children more prone to stomach flu?

• Frequent contact with other children in schools or daycare centers
• Less developed immune systems
• Tendency to put objects in their mouths
• Inconsistent hand-washing habits

Effective Treatment Strategies for Stomach Flu in Kids

When it comes to treating stomach flu in children, the focus should be on two primary aspects: hydration and rest. Dr. Isabel Rojas, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Health and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, emphasizes these key elements in managing the illness.

Hydration: The cornerstone of treatment

Proper hydration is crucial when dealing with stomach flu in children. Dr. Rojas recommends using a rehydration solution, which is readily available over the counter. It’s important to start with small sips and gradually increase the amount to prevent further vomiting.

Why is water alone not sufficient for rehydration? When children vomit or experience diarrhea, they lose not only fluids but also essential electrolytes. This loss can lead to low sodium levels in the blood, which can be dangerous. Rehydration solutions like Pedialyte are designed to replenish both fluids and electrolytes, making them more effective than water alone.

Home-made rehydration solution recipe

If you can’t access commercial rehydration solutions, you can make one at home using the following recipe:

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

Mix these ingredients thoroughly to create a simple yet effective rehydration solution.

The importance of rest

Alongside hydration, ample rest is crucial for children with stomach flu. Rest allows the digestive system to settle and heal, facilitating a quicker recovery.

The Role of Medication in Treating Stomach Flu

While it may be tempting to reach for medication to alleviate your child’s stomach flu symptoms, Dr. Rojas advises against it. Since stomach flu is caused by viruses, antibiotics are ineffective and unnecessary.

Dr. Rojas explains, “Usually we just need to let the virus run its own course. Trying to take medications can prolong symptoms and make them worse.” The only exception to this rule is the use of an appropriate dose of acetaminophen if your child has a fever.

Why are medications generally not recommended for stomach flu?

• Most medications won’t address the viral cause
• Some medicines can prolong symptoms
• The body’s natural immune response is usually sufficient
• Unnecessary medication use can lead to potential side effects

Dietary Recommendations for Children with Stomach Flu

Once your child stops vomiting, you can gradually reintroduce food. The BRAT diet is often recommended as a starting point for children recovering from stomach flu.

What does BRAT stand for?

• B – Bananas
• R – Rice
• A – Applesauce
• T – Toast

Dr. Rojas explains, “These foods are very easy to digest. Children can also have crackers, or grilled or boiled chicken.” It’s crucial to avoid greasy, heavy, or spicy foods for a few days after the vomiting subsides.

Foods and drinks to avoid during stomach flu recovery

• Dairy products (except for breastmilk or formula for infants)
• Apple juice
• Carbonated beverages
• Fatty or fried foods
• Spicy dishes

If your child experiences nausea or vomiting after reintroducing food, it’s best to pause feeding and allow their stomach to settle before trying again.

Duration and Progression of Stomach Flu in Children

Stomach flu typically runs its course within one to three days. Vomiting usually subsides within 24 hours. However, it’s important to monitor your child’s condition and be aware of signs that may indicate a need for medical attention.

When should you seek medical help for a child with stomach flu?

Contact your pediatrician if your child experiences any of the following:

• Symptoms persisting for more than 5 days
• High fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Diarrhea or vomiting with blood
• Signs of dehydration (e.g., infrequent urination, dry skin, absence of tears, rapid breathing)

Returning to Normal Activities After Stomach Flu

With proper rest and rehydration, most children recover fully from stomach flu within a few days. Dr. Rojas advises that children can return to school once diarrhea has stopped and they have been fever-free for 24 hours.

How to ensure a smooth transition back to school?

• Gradually increase activity levels
• Continue to emphasize good hand hygiene
• Pack easily digestible foods for lunch
• Inform teachers about your child’s recent illness
• Encourage regular hydration throughout the day

Preventing Stomach Flu in Children

While it’s not always possible to prevent stomach flu, certain measures can reduce the risk of infection and transmission.

Effective prevention strategies

1. Encourage frequent and thorough hand washing, especially before meals and after using the bathroom
2. Teach children to avoid touching their face, particularly their mouth, nose, and eyes
3. Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces at home
4. Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick
5. Ensure children’s vaccinations are up to date, including rotavirus vaccine for infants

By implementing these preventive measures, you can help reduce the likelihood of your child contracting or spreading stomach flu.

Long-term Health Considerations After Stomach Flu

While most cases of stomach flu in children resolve without complications, it’s important to be aware of potential long-term effects and how to support your child’s overall digestive health.

Potential long-term effects of stomach flu

• Temporary lactose intolerance
• Increased susceptibility to future gastrointestinal infections
• Rarely, post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome

To support your child’s digestive health after stomach flu, consider the following measures:

1. Gradually reintroduce a varied, balanced diet
2. Consider probiotic supplements or probiotic-rich foods
3. Encourage regular physical activity as it supports overall health, including digestive function
4. Maintain good hydration habits even after recovery
5. Continue to emphasize good hand hygiene to prevent future infections

By taking these steps, you can help ensure your child’s digestive system recovers fully and maintains optimal health in the long run.

The Role of Nutrition in Boosting Immunity Against Stomach Flu

While proper nutrition can’t prevent stomach flu entirely, a well-balanced diet can help strengthen your child’s immune system, potentially reducing the severity and frequency of gastrointestinal infections.

Immune-boosting foods for children

• Citrus fruits (rich in Vitamin C)
• Yogurt and other probiotic foods
• Lean meats (good source of zinc)
• Colorful vegetables (high in antioxidants)
• Nuts and seeds (provide healthy fats and vitamin E)

Incorporating these foods into your child’s regular diet can help support their immune function and overall health. Remember, a varied diet is key to ensuring your child receives a wide range of essential nutrients.

How can you encourage children to eat immune-boosting foods?

1. Make meals colorful and visually appealing
2. Involve children in meal planning and preparation
3. Offer a variety of options to prevent boredom
4. Lead by example by consuming these foods yourself
5. Educate children about the benefits of different foods in an age-appropriate manner

By fostering good nutritional habits, you’re not only helping to protect your child against stomach flu but also setting the foundation for a lifetime of health and wellness.

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

  Pediatric Surgeon

• Nathalie Brewer, MD

  Pediatric Surgeon

• 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

  Pediatric Surgeon

• 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!

Cape Town’s Sneaker Culture is Unlike Anywhere Else in the World

A child has a stomach ache – why and what to do, causes and types of diseases by age, methods of diagnosis and treatment

Abdominal pain in a child is a symptom that may indicate the development of various diseases, including very serious ones. Therefore, parents should remember an important rule – if the child complains about the stomach, you should not self-medicate. A timely visit to the doctor will help to identify the pathology in time and conduct effective treatment.

What worries children at different ages?

Each age has its own “set” of characteristic pathologies.

Children of the first year of life

Infants are often concerned about functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which manifest themselves in the form of colic, regurgitation, stool disorders. The reason for these violations lies in the imperfection of the digestive system: the enzymatic system of the gastrointestinal tract has not yet matured in the baby, the intestinal microflora has not been fully established, and the neuromuscular apparatus of the intestine is also not perfect. As a rule, after the end of the period of adaptation and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, all unpleasant symptoms disappear. Note that functional disorders can disturb children even at an older age. They arise due to a violation of the diet, diet, taking certain medications, a deliberate delay in defecation (for example, on the road).

Children under one year old are also characterized by intestinal forms of food intolerance, accompanied by slow weight gain, regurgitation, vomiting, the appearance of bloody streaks in the feces. This can be either intolerance of allergic origin (reaction to cow’s milk protein, gluten and other products), or lactose intolerance (milk sugar), associated with a lack or absence of the lactase enzyme, which is produced in the body.

Pre-school children

Children aged 1-6 years are characterized by intestinal infections of a viral or bacterial nature, usually caused by contact with a sick person or poor-quality food. Among the accompanying symptoms are abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, headache, weakness.

Children of primary preschool age have not yet developed personal hygiene skills, which increases the risk of helminthic and parasitic infestations. Most often, preschoolers are diagnosed with diseases such as ascariasis, enterobiasis and giardiasis. In this case, the child may complain of abdominal pain, itching, he may have a slight temperature. In this case, the help of a gastroenterologist is needed, who will conduct an examination, prescribe tests and ultrasound of the digestive tract and determine the treatment.

Children of primary school age and adolescents

Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract in schoolchildren are often associated with regular violations of the quality and diet. Among the most characteristic diseases for this age are: gastroduodenitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis. Associated symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation. After making an appropriate diagnosis, the child should be under dispensary observation by a gastroenterologist. Prevention, including following dietary recommendations, can minimize the frequency of exacerbations.

One of the pathologies typical for teenagers is irritable bowel syndrome. This condition is expressed in cramping pains in the abdomen that occur before emptying the intestines, and then pass. Irritable bowel syndrome is associated with emotional stress, anxiety, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders. Conflicts and stresses at school can exacerbate symptoms, provoke an exacerbation. Note that this diagnosis is made only when all other possible diseases are excluded.

Let’s talk about one more condition (without a specific reference to age), which in no case should be ignored. We are talking about surgical pathologies of the abdominal cavity, such as: appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, biliary colic, foreign body, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal trauma. Among the symptoms are severe abdominal pain, indomitable vomiting, loss of consciousness. In such cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible, because any delay can cost the child’s life.

How is the diagnosis carried out?

For the diagnosis of pathology associated with the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to consult a specialist – a gastroenterologist. First, the doctor will take a history and conduct an examination. Depending on the time of occurrence of pain and the place of its localization, the specialist may assume what kind of disease it is. So, pain during eating is characteristic of esophagitis (inflammation of the esophageal mucosa).