Stomach Bug Relief for Children
Children catch stomach bugs really easily, and they feel pretty rotten while it lasts. It can be tough to see them unwell, but parents also feel exasperated that it will be a good few days before their child or toddler can return to school or nursery.
Signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis in children
Stomach bugs, also known as gastroenteritis or "stomach flu", mostly cause diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache, pain or cramps, and sometimes fever. Most tummy bugs are infections caused by a virus and essentially their body needs time to do the hard work. Unfortunately there's nothing we doctors can prescribe to chase it away any sooner, it resolves by itself.
But there are ways to help them feel more comfortable while they battle on, and there are things you can give them to avoid further illness.
What causes stomach bugs?
Tummy bugs are most often viral, but bacteria and parasites can also cause them. Rotavirus is the most common gastric virus, with nearly every child in the UK coming across it by the age of 5, and they are given a vaccine in the UK childhood immunisation programme, to protect them. Adenovirus and norovirus can also cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
Bacterial infection can cause fever and bloody diarrhoea, and they may appear more unwell. The most likely bacteria are Campylobacter, E. Coli and Salmonella.
Doctor’s advice
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How long does gastroenteritis last?
Symptoms usually last between 24 and 48 hours, but may last up to 10 days – hopefully with improvement during that time.
With infective gastroenteritis, your child or toddler is contagious from the time they get the first symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting until they have recovered.
Vomiting usually lasts 1 to 2 days, diarrhoea from 5 to 7 days, and they need a further 2 days since their last vomit or diarrhoea, before they can go back to school. For parents, this a dreaded several days off work to stay home with them.
They should stay off school and avoid pregnant or immune-compromised people until their symptoms have resolved for 48 hours.
Handy tips to relieve stomach bug
When children catch gastroenteritis, they lose additional fluids through vomiting and diarrhoea. This can cause dehydration. As a result, it’s important to make sure your child drinks plenty of water little and often throughout the day.
Keep them hydrated
Aim for sips little and often to avoid dehydration, as big intakes at once can stretch the stomach and stimulate vomiting. Keep an eye on their intake and how much urine they are passing to ensure they are hydrated enough.
Adapt breast feeding or bottles
If your baby or toddler bottle or breast fed, try giving smaller feeds more often, and they can have sips of water in between, and keep an eye on the number of wet nappies and how heavy they feel, compared to usual.
Top up electrolytes
Diarrhoea and vomiting risk not only dehydration but also loss of important electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which can make them feel worse and puts them at risk of serious illness. Rehydration salts like O.R.S. can help redress the balance.
Avoid infection spread
Stomach bugs are very contagious, and you want to avoid the whole household coming down with an infection. If you have more than one bathroom, try to keep one solely for your infected child to use, and avoid them sharing cutlery or cups, clothes or towels with anyone else in the family. Wash any contaminated clothes, bedding or towels separately on a hot wash.
Wash your hands
Everyone in the house should follow strict hand hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water after toileting and before preparing or eating food. Those who are unwell should not prepare or serve food for others.
Stick to plain foods
Dairy products, sugary foods, spicy and flavourful food should be avoided. Sticking to soft, dry, basic foods like soup or dry toast is best.
Pharmacist recommended products
Gastroenteritis can occur due to viral infections or food poisoning contaminated by bacteria. In some cases, a food allergy may also be a cause.
Very often, the body's natural response is to clear toxins in the gut and flush them out by causing vomiting and/or diarrhoea to occur. Gastroenteritis can also lead to fever (since the immune system is activated), sweating, and symptoms of abdominal cramps, dehydration, lethargy, and fatigue due to loss of fluid and electrolytes.
This health kit aims to:
- Relieve the symptoms of diarrhoea, trapped wind and painful bloating
- Help eliminate allergens and pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract and aid recovery.
- Restore electrolyte and fluid balance.
O.R.S Hydration Strawberry Soluble Tablets can help replenish fluid and electrolytes lost during bouts of diarrhoea and prevent dehydration. The salts can also help reduce the risk of cramps.
Enterosgel® Kids is an intestinal adsorbent (enterosorbent) that binds toxins, harmful substances, pathogens, and allergens in the GI tract. Clostridium difficile, Shigella, and E.coli toxins can cause diarrhoea by inflaming colon mucosal cells.
Enterosgel can bind bacterial toxins, bile acids, and other GI-disorder-causing substances and viruses, according to a 2019 UK study.
Improving gut health can lead to a reduction in IBS symptoms. After clearing toxins associated with a bout of IBS associated with diarrhoea or a course of antibiotics, it is a good idea to replenish and improve the number of good bacteria.
Note: Always read the information leaflets and specific product information before purchasing, as some products may not be suitable for all patients. This is especially so if you take other medicines or suffer from other medical conditions. Please speak to your local pharmacist, doctor, or another qualified health practitioner if you are unsure about anything.
When should my child see a doctor?
You should discuss with your doctor if your child is:
- vomiting and unable to keep fluids down
- drinking considerably less over a 12 to 24 hour period, or breast/bottle feeding less
- passing considerably less urine, or having fewer wet nappies, or urine smells strong and looks dark
- having diarrhoea for more than 7 days
- vomiting for more than 2 days
- has bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the back passage
- travelled to south-east Asia or Africa within the last 3 months
You should attend the Emergency Department or call 999 if your child has:*
- severe abdominal pain
- vomited blood or what looks like coffee grounds
- green or yellowy-green vomit
- a stiff neck, a new rash, and is unable to look at bright lights
- a sudden severe headache
- seems unwell – trust your instinct
How to prevent stomach bugs
The best way to prevent stomach bugs from making your child unwell is to practise good hygiene, and encourage your child to practice good hygiene. It’s important that everybody washes their hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water after using the bathroom and before eating.
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