Stomach Flu in Children

Be on the lookout for changes in behavior like tiredness, lack of energy, crankiness, or crying spells. In addition, children often are warm to the touch, have glassy eyes or reddened skin when they are running a fever.

Photo courtesy of Glen

How is Stomach Flu Transmitted?

The viruses that cause gastroenteritis (stomach flu) are often found in the stool or vomit of a person who is already ill. The gastroenteritis virus is highly contagious and is easily spread from person to person:

• through food or drinks that are contaminated with the virus
• through close contact with a sick person
• sharing food or utensils with a sick person
• touching surfaces or objects like toys that are contaminated and then putting fingers or hands into one's mouth
• not washing hands after using the bathroom

Children can spread gastroenteritis ( intestinal flu ) both before and after they become infected and actually have diarrhea.

In addition, children can get this type of illness by being poisoned by heavy metals, food, some plants or chemicals. These forms of the illness, of course, are not contagious.

Dr. Deborah Baker has written a book, Homeopathic/Herbal Flu Prevention and Cures that, not only includes homeopathic remedies for treatment AND prevention, but also includes dosages, the mystery for most non-professionals.

Get started on homeopathic swine flu prevention or treatment today.

Incubation Period for
Stomach Flu in Children

As soon as your child has been exposed to a stomach virus, it goes directly to the small intestines. And it multiplies. This is called the stomach flu incubation period, and it last for 1-2 days. After that, you child will start to show symptoms.

Symptoms of Stomach Flu in Children, for the most part, are similar to stomach flu symptoms in adults. The most common ones are vomiting and diarrhea.

However, not all children will even show symptoms of being ill. A child can remain ill for 1 to 10 days.

Photo courtesy of Nathan McCurley

Stomach Flu Treatment for Children

Follow the recommendations given for remedy for stomach flu with the following additions:

• Check with your doctor before giving your child medicine for diarrhea or vomiting.
• Give your child Pedialyte or another oral rehydration solution. Don't add water or sugar to it.
• Force liquids. Even if you have to give them to your child—a teaspoon at a time.
• If your infant is sick, continue nursing (or feeding formula).
• Give the child ½ cup of liquid for each watery stool. Feed slowly, if necessary. But keep doing it, as replacing fluids is VERY important!
• If you have an infant who is ill, don't give other clear liquids (instead of breast milk or formula) or plain water. You do have to give the oral rehydration solution, though.
• Bed rest, if possible.
• Take your child's temperature every 4 hours and keep a medical record.
• Have your child wash his hands after using the bathroom and before eating.

And it may help you to view the video on stomach flu treatment by Dr. David Hill. Or, if you would like to get an answer to a question about stomach flu in children (or anything else) quickly, try doctors advice online , where you can get a live online answer from an expert--almost always within a few minutes.

When to Call the Doctor...

There are times when you should call the doctor. For children, if you see any of these symptoms, it's time to give the doctor a ring...

• High temperature or a fever that keeps rising
• Diarrhea or vomiting that has lasted over 24 hours
• Diarrhea or vomiting that gets worse
• Vomit that is green or bloody
• Diarrhea with blood
• Child is not drinking or is not drinking enough.
• sunken eyes
• less urine or pee – hasn't gone in a few hours
• no tears when she cries
• unusually sleepy or fussy
• extremely thirsty

Taking care of a sick child is a bit more challenging than caring for an adult, mostly because they can't always tell you what is wrong and because children can become dehydrated so quickly.

But, fortunately stomach flu in children doesn't last that long, and if handled properly, you and your child will be none the worse when it's over.

Keep in mind that, if it would give you peace of mind, you can consult with a doctor and get doctors online advice , usually within just a few minutes of asking your question.

• Return to Flu in Children
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• Go to Virus Information
• Swine Flu Symptoms in Children
• Severe Swine Flu Symptoms in Kids
• Duration of Stomach Flu
• Swine Flu Precautions - Clean Soft Toys
• Is Stomach Flu Contagious?
• Pandemic Flu Guide HOME - from Stomach Flu in Children