Vomiting and diarrhea in children are often the result of some viral infection, and at times, bacterial infection. The viral infections are quite contagious, so if one child gets an intestinal infection, there is higher probability that other children in the family will get infected. What are the causes? Vomiting and loose motion in children can be due to strep throat infection, urinary tract infection, ear infection, meningitis, appendicitis, food or milk allergy, and side-effects of using medication, more often due to antibiotics. Vomiting and diarrhea causes can include indigestion and eating spicy foods, too many sweets, and undercooked fish or meat.
What happens due to vomiting and diarrhea in children? Vomiting and diarrhea in children can be damaging as it results in dehydration. Children are prone to loose more fluids and become dehydrated very soon. The signs of dehydration could be fatigue and inability to take fluids or food. Vomiting and diarrhea in children could mean that they have severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting that is strenuous, diarrhea with blood or bile in the stool, which is yellow or green in color, abdominal swelling, seizures or convulsions, feeling of lethargy, irritability, dry mouth, insufficient urination, and feeling sleepy.
What can be done? It is important to go in for vomiting and diarrhea treatment. You can begin with vomiting and diarrhea remedies that are available easily at home. The first is to begin with rehydration. The immediate source of remedy lies in giving warm water with little salt and sugar mixed. As the child will lose vital minerals and nourishment, it is imperative to give oral rehydration solution (ORS) prescribed by the WHO. ORS is also available commercially under various names, which can be given to the child to restore lost electrolytes and minerals. If you are nursing continue to breastfeed as breast milk contains the needed electrolytes. You may be asked by the doctor to give extra dose of ORS in case of severe dehydration.
However, do not give too many fluids either; the wrong kind of fluids will not help the toddler. It is best to begin with small quantities like one teaspoon or tablespoon, if the child is vomiting very often. Give time for the fluid to retain in the body. Keep increasing the quantity as the child retains more fluids.
When do I give solid foods? You can allow the child to be on fluids in the 12 to 24 hours, but after that, you can slowly introduce semi-solids like soups, ice creams, gelato, and pudding. After initial irritation of the stomach in the child for few days, you can increase the food quantity and type, after the vomiting and diarrhea has subsided.
Yogurt is an excellent remedy for vomiting and diarrhea in children. In case of vomiting and diarrhea in children with fever, you can give soups and avoid milk as it worsens the condition. In cases of vomiting and diarrhea in children without fever, you may prepare rice gruel and mix it well with yogurt. Season it with little mustard seeds spluttered in hot sesame oil. Add no salt, and feed your child this yogurt rice early in the morning as an effective vomiting and diarrhea remedy.
You can also mix one teaspoon or more of arrowroot powder in hot boiling water and give it to your child after cooling, for vomiting and diarrhea with or without fever. Bishop's weed also helps bring relief when suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. It helps by reducing abdominal pain and facilitates healing of the stomach lining. Fenugreek seed powder mixed with yogurt or a small spoon of the powder taken with warm water is an excellent remedy for vomiting and diarrhea in children. Also, give your child healthy and nutritious food to regain lost health and energy.
For vomiting and diarrhea treatment avoid foods with added sugars and call for medical help if the child suffers for more than eight hours with continuous vomiting and diarrhea, is less than six months old, has high fever, has blood in stools and in vomit, has swallowed something poisonous, has abdominal swelling, and is very restless.
answered by A S