How to handle vomiting and diarrhea
A child with vomiting and diarrhea should always be seen in our office to evaluate the source of illness. However if it is determined that your child is vomiting and having diarrhea due to a virus and she/he is safe to go home there is a method of small frequent fluids to help acclimate your child’s gastrointestinal system to regular foods again. The purpose of this method is to break the vomiting cycle.
- Wait an hour and ½ after the last vomiting episode
- Obtain Pedialyte (the best rehydration fluid) and begin giving fluid as follows
- 1 teaspoon every 20 minutes for an hour then
- 2 teaspoons every 20 minutes for the second hour then
- 3 teaspoons every 20 minutes for the third hour then
- 4 teaspoons every 20 minutes for the fourth hour then
- 5 teaspoons every 20 minutes for the fifth hour then
- 6 teaspoons every 20 minutes for the sixth hour
- Wait at least three hours
- Give 3 ounces of Pedialyte at once
- Give 1 ½ ounces of formula with 1 ½ ounces of Pedialyte
- Wait three hours
- Try 3 ounces of full formula
- Wait three hours
- Start small amounts of bland foods (rice, plain pasta, crackers) which will also help solidify the stool
- Don’t return to complete regular diet until at least 2 days after this re-feeding process has started.