Dealing With Diarrhea & Vomiting
Most cases of diarrhea are viral in nature and can present with fevers and vomiting.
Infectious Diarrhea can last 2 weeks.
Dangerous diarrhea like salmonella or shigella usually presents with high fevers and bloody diarrhea.
One of the most common complications of diarrhea is dehydration.
Children and adults with diarrhea can not digest milk well and can have more pain and loose stools when they eat dairy products.
Patients with diarrhea loose large amount of salt and water (electrolytes) in their stools.
What Should You Feed Your Child With Diarrhea
BRAT DIET: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast
Hydrate well with Pedialyte (if not available, can try with Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin Water) they will replenish the lost electrolytes.
Avoid Milk at all costs!!!
Yogurt may help the probiotics found in yogurts help stop the diarrhea
Probiotics can be purchased over the counter at your pharmacy
Avoid fatty or fried foods.
Avoid acidic foods like fruits, tomato sauce, pizza.
Change your child’s diapers often to prevent diaper rashes.
Use Vaseline, A & D Ointment, Buttpaste, Desitin or Balmex after air drying the diaper area. 1
Avoid wiping the diaper area with wipes to keep the skin intact use lukewarm water.
Chicken Broth and Saltines are also o.k to give
If Your Child Starts to Vomit:
If they vomit once stop giving solid foods start by giving pedialyte or gatorade slowly.
If the vomiting repeats a few times sit next to your child for an hour and give one teaspoon of pedialyte every 5 minutes not faster!!! this way, your child will absorb all the fluids before they have a chance to vomit. This step is the most important!!!!
After doing this for a few hours, slowly try to give them crackers or saltines and if they tolerate this, you could advance the diet.
If your child continues to vomit despite having 5 minute breaks call your doctor they may be severely dehydrated.