DIARRHEA AND VOMITING INSTRUCTIONS

 

Vomiting and diarrhea are usually symptoms of gastroenteritis(“stomach/intestinal flu”).  They can also be symptoms of many other problems.  The following is a guide to the symptomatic treatment of vomiting and diarrhea.

VOMITING:

1-Do not give anything by mouth for 2 hrs to allow the nausea to subside and rest the intestinal tract.

2-Give 1oz. of either Pedialyte or Gatorade every 15 min for 2 hrs.

3-If there is no further vomiting, allow your child all the Pedialyte or Gatorade he/she will drink for the next 2 hrs,(otherwise, go back to step #1).

4-If there is still no further vomiting, your child may then be allowed other liquids, foods, and medicine.

5-We do not recommend pills, injections, or suppositories for the routine treatment of vomiting.

6-Watch for signs of dehydration(dry mouth, dry skin, sunken eyes, decreased urination)

7- Call the doctor if: A: Inability to retain a significant amount of fluid over 24hrs.

                                  B: Extreme difficulty arousing the child.

                                  C: The child appears extremely ill between episodes of vomiting.

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FLUID:

WEIGHT             FLUID/12 HRS            FLUID/24 HRS

 6 LBS                     5 OZ                             10 OZ

12                          10                                    20

18                          15                                    30

30                          19                                    38

40                          23                                    46

60                          26                                    53

90                          31                                    63

Adolescent            40                                    80

 

DIARRHEA:

1-If stools are slightly loose, then no treatment is necessary-they will return to normal in time.

2-If stools are very watery for more than a day or two, avoid milk and milk products. The milk sugar “lactose” may prolong and intensify the diarrhea. Infant formulas containing lactose can be temporarily switched to non-lactose containing formulas(eg. Isomil DF, Prosobee or Nursoy). After the diarrhea has stopped for a day, you can remove this restriction.

3-Infants who are breastfed may continue to do so.

4-Children with diarrhea but who have not recently vomited, may continue to eat(do not starve them).

5-If signs of dehydration occur(see #6 under vomiting above), call the doctor.

6-Medicines for diarrhea do not prevent dehydration, are sometimes harmful, and are not routinely recommended.

 

                                             VINELAND PEDIATRICS, PA                              3/01