Page 138 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

136 COMMON CONDITIONS: CHILDREN’S PROBLEMS

Diarrhea and vomiting (children)

Diarrhea and vomiting in a child is often due to gastroenteritis, an infection that can be picked up through
contact with infected people or from contaminated food or water. Your child may also have abdominal pains,
fever, and a headache. Emotional stress or excitement can cause an upset stomach in some children, as can
reactions to food or drink, particularly large amounts of fruit or sugar. Children sometimes develop toddler’s
diarrhea – watery stools in which bits of food can be seen – due to not digesting food properly. This usually
clears up by the age of 3. A child with an illness that causes a fever or cough may vomit without diarrhea.
See also Food intolerance, p.113; Food poisoning, p.114.

See your doctor first
DRUG REMEDIES
Make an appointment to see your doctor if:
● There is blood in your child’s stools or vomit Oral rehydration solutions (see
p.188) replace water, salts, and sugars lost from
● Your child has sunken eyes, a dry mouth
diarrhea and/or vomiting and prevent dehydration.
and tongue, has not urinated for more than They are available as ready-to-use bottled solutions
6 hours, or is abnormally drowsy in different flavors.
● Your child gets repeated bouts of diarrhea
Acetaminophen
(see p.177) will help to
relieve fever and pain
What you can do yourself due to gastroenteritis.
If your child has vomiting and diarrhea the main risk
is dehydration, so you need to replace lost fluids. Rehydration drink
Offer oral rehydration
● Make sure your child has plenty to drink. If he or
solution instead of,
she is still vomiting, give frequent sips of water. You or in addition to, the
can use an oral rehydration solution to replace lost child’s regular drinks.
fluids and salts (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
● When your child feels ready to eat again, start
by offering small amounts of bland foods, then
PREVENTION
gradually return to a normal diet.
● Give your child acetaminophen to ease a fever or Avoiding infection Be scrupulous about
stomachache (see DRUG REMEDIES, right), but don’t hygiene to prevent infection with gastroenteritis or,
give over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicines. if your child already has the infection, to stop it from
being passed to other family members.
● Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
before and after handling or feeding your child;
Seek further medical advice
before handling food or eating; and after using the
Arrange to see your doctor if: toilet. Make sure other family members do the same.
● Use separate towels and washcloths for your child
● Your child has abdominal pain for more than
if he or she has an infection.
3 hours; vomiting has not stopped after 12 hours; ● Clean the toilet regularly, including the seat and
or diarrhea has not stopped after 24 hours handle, with bleach or disinfectant.
● Your child is refusing drinks ● Make sure your child washes his or her hands
after playing outdoors or handling pets.