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| | Author | Messages | |
Silence
Posts:0
 | | 11/07/2007 7:48 AM |
 Alert | As many parents can attest, stomach flu is a rite of passage for children. Luckily, most kids get better in a few days. But, if your child gets sick with this common ailment, watch for signs that he or she needs extra care or should see a doctor.
Stomach flu is a misleading name for the condition because the influenza virus doesn’t cause it. Its medical name — gastroenteritis — refers to an inflammation of the stomach and intestines resulting from an infection by other viruses. The illness typically leads to stomach pain, vomiting and watery diarrhea.
Encourage fluid intake
In older kids, the vomiting and diarrhea usually aren’t serious. But, infants and small children may not be able to drink enough fluids to replace those they’ve lost. In fact, if your child is younger than age 2 years and has symptoms for more than 12 hours, see a doctor right away.
You can help prevent dehydration by making sure your child drinks enough liquids. Continue to breast- or bottle-feed infants, and encourage older kids to drink liquids, even small sips. Some parents use an oral rehydration solution, which is available at most pharmacies and grocery stores.
Watch for these signs
Even with the best care, your child may become dehydrated and need intravenous fluids to recover. Call your doctor if you notice:
Dry lips or extreme thirst
Infrequent urination or dark urine
Dizziness
Sunken eyes in toddlers
Few tears when your baby cries
Stomach pain and vomiting
Bloody diarrhea
A fever above 102° F
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| | bizybeth
Posts:569
| | 11/07/2007 1:07 PM |
Alert | | Thanks, Silence, that is great info and great advice! Are you going to run a regular column? You've got some helpful info there! | |
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