Suffering from stomach flu in kids is not uncommon, and parents get very anxious when their kids get stomach flu. Stomach flu is not caused by influenza which is a respiratory virus. Kids often get stomach flu through the oral route. Primarily, there are three viruses responsible for stomach flu : rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus.
What are the Symptoms of Stomach Flu?
While kids suffer from stomach flu, they often have vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes, this lasts for twenty-four hours or longer. Kids can suffer from diarrhea which can sometimes be watery. Suffering from stomach pain and cramps is common. Kids may have a chill and nausea. Poor appetite, muscle aches, stiff joints, tiredness, sleepiness are other common symptoms that a child may have.
Tips for Parents to Take Care of their Kids
Doctors always suggest that parents follow the following essential tips to take care of their kids:
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A habit of handwashing:
Parents need to teach their kids frequent handwashing habits. This regular practice will keep your kids safe from getting infected by various diseases. No doubt, the surfaces and other objects at your home will carry the virus, and whenever your kids touch them, they get infected with these viruses. Hence, parents must maintain hygiene and train their kids in regular hand washing.
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Lots of fluids
Once kids start vomiting, parents get frightened. This situation is normal as parents are not habituated to this situation. Parents need to give their kids 15ml of fluids at 15 minutes intervals for at least the first 3 hours. The fluid can include rice water, barley water, ORS solution, etc.
Once you notice that your kids haven’t vomited for 8 hours, then you can start feeding them liquid diet. The exact process also needs to be followed for breastfeeding babies.
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Consult a doctor
If the child is running a fever or is not responding to simple measures like ORS water then a doctor should be consulted immediately for further management. Dehydration is a dangerous situation and needs to be avoided an managed promptly.
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