Back To School: How to Deal With the Stomach Flu
It’s about to be that time of year when somethings is always “going around”. One of those things is the stomach flu, technically called gastroenteritis. And this will for sure keep your kids out of school, and you home from work. Not to mention it’s miserable. If you are wondering how to deal with the stomach flu, I’m here to give you some tips!
More often than not the stomach flu will pass in 24-48 hours, with the worst of it done in the first 24. And then it’ll take you a few days to really feel back to normal. The main goal is to stay hydrated and rest.
*This is for educational and informational purposes only, this is not to be taken as medical advice. Please always consult your doctor with any questions or before taking or giving your child any medications*
Symptoms
I’m sure you are well aware of the symptoms of the stomach flu, but just in case well do a quick review.
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Possibly a fever, but not always
- Headache
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Hydration
The greatest concern with the stomach flu is dehydration. Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea and Fever all contribute to dehydration. And you are so thirsty, but every time you try to take a drink it comes right back up! Then the worse the dehydration gets, the worse the vomiting gets… its a sick cycle.
My hydration tips
- Small sips, and when I say small I mean SMALL. Get a medicine cup and measure out 5ml at a time, or 1 teaspoon. Wait 5 minutes and drink another 5ml. I know it sounds tedious, and it is, but it is better than taking a big drink and throwing it up. After you (or whoever you are caring for) can tolerate this for 30 min, you can slowly begin to increase how much they drink at a time. But make sure not to rush it! If they start to vomit, start back at the beginning.
- Popsicles- these are great, especially for younger kids who have a hard time understanding the “small sip” idea. They taste good, they have some sugar, and typically they won’t eat them fast enough to make themselves sick. Pedialyte makes popsicles which are a good option, the only think I don’t love about these is they are in Otterpop form which is difficult for the littles and makes a mess. I prefer to make my own. There are several ways you can make them, the easiest would be to just freeze Pedialyte or another electrolyte drink (it can be generic) in a popsicle mold. This is popsicle mold I am using now, and I love it!
- Make it Ice Cold! When you using the small sip technique, make sure whatever they are drinking is ice cold.
- Clear liquids is always the recommendation, but not all clear liquids are created equal. I would prioritize an electrolyte drink over a soda (even Ginger Ale). Something like Pedialyte or Liquid IV would be my first choice.
- Bone Broth- sipping on bone broth is a great option because it is full of nutrients and really good for your stomach.
Managing the Symptoms
Nausea and Vomiting
Being nauseas is such a miserable feeling! And unfortunately there’s not a ton you can do, most of the time the bug has to just run its course. But there are a few things you can try.
- A cool rag on the back of your neck- this helps cool you down overall and can help soothe the nauseas feeling.
- Ginger- I can’t stomach the ginger chews even when I’m feeling okay, but you can definitely give them try! I prefer lemon ginger tea to sip on, and I would recommend you drink it cold.
- Peppermint- You can peppermint candies or gum. Diffusing peppermint essential oils has also been shown to help decrease nausea and I know it helped me when I was struggling with morning sickness.
- Stay hydrated
Easing vomiting requires a combination of easing the nausea and doing your best to stay hydrated. You Also want to avoid dairy products, spicy foods, fatty foods, and anything that is strong smelling. When you first try to eat something again, or try to give something to your little one, start bland.
The BRAT diet is typically what is recommended. It stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. Things that are easy to digest. Plain pasta is another good option.
Diarrhea
Frequently as the virus makes its way through the body, you’ll go from being miserable with nausea and vomiting, to being miserable with diarrhea. At least at this point you are able to keep fluids down. Again, the main focus is to stay hydrated! Lots of fluids with electrolytes! With diarrhea caused by a gastrointestinal (GI) bug it is not recommended to take anything to stop the diarrhea because that is the body’s way of getting rid of it. It is also important that you don’t give any child under two years old any antidiarrheal.
Fever and Headache
The stomach flu may or may not come with a fever. It is not uncommon to have a headache and just feel overall yucky with the stomach flu, and if your child has a fever, they will feel and look worse. The best thing to do is, again (broken record over here), stay hydrated. And If your child does have a fever you can give them Tylenol. I typically prefer Motrin or Ibuprofen, but in this case Tylenol is easier to take on an empty stomach.
When Should You Take Your Child In?
Your child needs to be seen if the vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, or if they are vomiting green (bile) or blood. If they are having severe abdominal pain, consistently even when they are not vomiting. Or if they have signs of dehydration, no urine in 8 hours, or less than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours for babies. Other signs to watch for are very dry mouth and no tears when they cry.
I also ALWAYS tell parents… you know your child best! If you think they need to be seen by a doctor there’s a reason for that and trust your gut.
Thanks for being here! Best of luck going back to school!
xx, Mollie
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