What are the best ways to treat stomach flu in children. How long does stomach flu typically last in kids. Which foods are recommended for children recovering from stomach flu. When should parents seek medical attention for a child with stomach flu.

Understanding Stomach Flu in Children: Causes and Symptoms

Stomach flu, medically known as viral gastroenteritis, is a common ailment affecting children. Despite its name, it’s not related to influenza. Instead, it’s caused by various viruses that target the digestive system, primarily norovirus and rotavirus.

Children are particularly susceptible to stomach flu due to their developing immune systems and tendency to put objects in their mouths. The close contact in schools and daycare centers also facilitates the spread of these viruses.

Common Symptoms of Stomach Flu in Children

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

These symptoms can be distressing for both children and parents. However, with proper care and attention, most cases of stomach flu resolve within a few days.

Effective Home Remedies for Treating Stomach Flu in Kids

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

Hydration: The Key to Recovery

Maintaining proper hydration is crucial when a child has stomach flu. Dr. Rojas advises, “For hydration, use a rehydration solution that’s available in any store and over the counter. Start with small sips and increase gradually, so they don’t vomit it up.”

Why is a rehydration solution preferable to plain water? When children vomit or have diarrhea, they lose not only fluids but also essential electrolytes. A rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, replenishes both fluids and electrolytes, helping to prevent potentially dangerous conditions like low blood sodium.

DIY Rehydration Solution Recipe

If commercial rehydration solutions are unavailable, 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 homemade oral rehydration solution.

The Importance of Rest

Alongside hydration, rest is crucial for recovery. Dr. Rojas emphasizes that ample rest allows the digestive system to settle and heal. Create a calm, comfortable environment for your child to recuperate.

The Role of Medication in Treating Stomach Flu

Parents often wonder if medication can help alleviate their child’s stomach flu symptoms. However, Dr. Rojas generally advises against using medication for stomach flu.

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

This recommendation stems from the fact that stomach flu is caused by viruses, not bacteria. As such, antibiotics are ineffective against stomach flu and may even harm the child’s gut microbiome.

When is Medication Appropriate?

The only exception to the no-medication rule, according to Dr. Rojas, is when a child has a fever. In such cases, an appropriate dose of acetaminophen can help manage the fever and provide some relief.

Dietary Recommendations for Children Recovering from Stomach Flu

Once vomiting subsides, it’s important to reintroduce food carefully. Dr. Rojas recommends following the BRAT diet, which stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast.

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

Foods to Avoid During Recovery

While reintroducing food, it’s equally important to know which foods to avoid. For a few days after experiencing vomiting, children should steer clear of:

• Greasy foods
• Heavy meals
• Spicy foods
• Dairy products (except for breastmilk or formula for infants)

Additionally, certain drinks like apple juice or carbonated beverages can exacerbate vomiting or diarrhea. Stick to rehydration solutions or plain water until your child fully recovers.

Duration of Stomach Flu in Children: What to Expect

Parents often wonder how long their child’s stomach flu will last. Typically, stomach flu in children lasts between one and three days. Vomiting usually subsides within 24 hours, although other symptoms may persist for a bit longer.

However, if symptoms continue for more than five days, it’s advisable to consult your pediatrician. This extended duration could indicate a more serious condition or complications.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While most cases of stomach flu resolve on their own, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention. Contact your pediatrician if your child experiences:

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

These symptoms could indicate a more severe condition or complications that require professional medical intervention.

Returning to Normal Activities: When is it Safe?

As your child recovers from stomach flu, you may wonder when it’s safe for them to return to school or other regular activities. Dr. Rojas provides clear guidelines for this transition.

Children can typically return to school once two conditions are met:

1. Diarrhea has stopped
2. They have been fever-free for 24 hours

This approach ensures that your child is no longer contagious and feels well enough to participate in normal activities. However, it’s important to listen to your child and not rush their return if they still feel unwell.

Preventing Stomach Flu: Practical Tips for Parents

While it’s not always possible to prevent stomach flu, there are several measures parents can take to reduce the risk of infection and spread:

1. Encourage Proper Hand Hygiene

Teach your children to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and after playing outside. Proper hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of viruses that cause stomach flu.

2. Disinfect Surfaces Regularly

Viruses that cause stomach flu can survive on surfaces for extended periods. Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home, such as doorknobs, light switches, and toys.

3. Practice Food Safety

Ensure that all food is properly washed, cooked, and stored. Avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen by using separate cutting boards for raw meats and vegetables.

4. Boost Immune System Health

Support your child’s immune system by ensuring they get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

5. Isolate Sick Family Members

If a family member has stomach flu, try to isolate them as much as possible to prevent the virus from spreading to others in the household.

By implementing these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of stomach flu in your household. However, remember that no prevention method is foolproof, and it’s normal for children to occasionally contract stomach flu despite best efforts.

Understanding the Impact of Stomach Flu on Child Development

While stomach flu is generally a short-term illness, frequent or severe episodes can potentially impact a child’s growth and development. This is primarily due to the loss of nutrients and disruption to normal eating patterns during illness.

Potential Impacts on Growth

Repeated bouts of stomach flu, especially if they occur close together, can lead to:

• Temporary weight loss
• Delays in height gain
• Nutrient deficiencies

However, most children quickly catch up on growth once they recover, provided they receive proper care and nutrition.

Psychological Impact

Beyond physical effects, stomach flu can also have psychological impacts on children. Some children may develop anxiety about eating or going to school after a severe bout of stomach flu. Parents should be aware of these potential issues and provide reassurance and support as needed.

If you notice ongoing anxiety or behavioral changes related to eating or socialization after your child recovers from stomach flu, consider consulting with your pediatrician or a child psychologist.

The Role of Probiotics in Stomach Flu Recovery

Recent research has explored the potential benefits of probiotics in treating and preventing stomach flu in children. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that support gut health and may help restore the balance of gut flora disrupted by stomach flu.

Potential Benefits of Probiotics

Some studies suggest that certain probiotic strains may:

• Reduce the duration of diarrhea
• Alleviate the severity of symptoms
• Help prevent future episodes of stomach flu

However, it’s important to note that not all probiotics are equally effective, and more research is needed to determine the optimal strains and dosages for treating stomach flu in children.

Consulting with Your Pediatrician

Before introducing probiotics to your child’s diet, especially during or after a bout of stomach flu, it’s crucial to consult with your pediatrician. They can provide guidance on whether probiotics are appropriate for your child and recommend specific products or strains that may be beneficial.

Remember, while probiotics may offer potential benefits, they should not replace the primary treatments of rest and proper hydration for stomach flu in children.

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!

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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.