Dehydration and the "Stomach Flu"

Kids with mild gastroenteritis (also called the "stomach flu," which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) who aren't dehydrated should continue to eat normally but should be encouraged to drink additional fluid to replace fluid losses. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), recent studies have shown that most kids with gastroenteritis can safely eat a regular age-appropriate diet while they're sick.

In fact, feeding a regular diet to kids who have diarrhea may even reduce the duration of diarrhea, while offering proper nutrition. Infants with mild gastroenteritis who aren't dehydrated should continue to receive breast milk or regular-strength formula. Older kids may continue to drink full-strength milk and other fluids.

Foods that are usually well tolerated by kids with gastroenteritis who aren't dehydrated include: complex carbohydrates (such as rice, wheat, potatoes, bread, and cereals), lean meats, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid fatty foods or foods high in simple sugars (including juices and soft drinks). If the child is vomiting and isn't dehydrated, give fluids frequently, but in small amounts.

Treating Dehydration

It's important for parents to learn to recognize the early signs of dehydration and to respond quickly if they develop. Younger infants and children should be watched very carefully because they're more likely to become dehydrated than older kids or teens.

The goal in treating dehydration is to replace fluids in order to restore the levels of body fluids to normal. As with prevention, the approach may differ depending on the age of the child and the condition causing the dehydration.

An older child who's mildly dehydrated due to overexertion will probably be thirsty and should be allowed to drink as much as he or she wants. Plain water is the best option for the first hour or two. After this, the child might need drinks containing sugar and electrolytes (salts) or regular food. Also, the child should rest in a cool, shaded environment until the lost fluid has been replaced.

Rehydration

Kids who are dehydrated due to vomiting or diarrhea from an illness (such as gastroenteritis) should have their lost fluids replaced with a special liquid called an oral rehydration solution (ORS). This is available in many grocery stores and pharmacies without a prescription and is designed for kids who are dehydrated. It contains just the right combination of sugar and salts to help the intestines absorb what the body needs.

The replacement of lost fluids is known as rehydration, which is achieved by replacing the lost fluids using an ORS over the course of a few hours. Start the rehydration process by giving your child 1 or 2 teaspoons (5 or 10 milliliters) of an ORS every few minutes. This can be done with a spoon or an oral syringe. Popsicles also may be used to slowly rehydrate. Although this may not seem like enough fluids to rehydrate your child, these small amounts can add up to more than a cup (237 milliliters) an hour.

Even kids who are vomiting can usually be successfully rehydrated this way because the small frequent sips get absorbed in between the vomiting episodes. In addition, the correction of dehydration often lessens the frequency of vomiting. If the child does well, you can gradually give bigger sips a little less often.

In nursing infants, breastfeeding should be continued, even during the initial rehydration process unless they're vomiting repeatedly. The ORS can be given in between breast feedings. For babies who are normally formula-fed or who eats solids, formula and foods should be stopped during rehydration and restarted as soon as the child is able to keep fluids down and is no longer showing signs of dehydration several hours later. Changes in formula usually aren't necessary.

Other "clear liquids" often used by parents or recommended by doctors in the past are no longer considered appropriate for use in dehydrated kids. Drinks to avoid include: water, soda, ginger ale, tea, fruit juice, gelatin desserts, chicken broth, or sports drinks. These don't have the right mix of sugar and salts and can even make diarrhea worse.

Once your child is rehydrated, you can resume a normal diet, which should include lots of complex carbohydrates (such as rice, potatoes, and whole-grain breads and cereals), lean meats, yogurt, fruits and vegetables, as well as the child's usual milk source (breast milk or formula for infants and full-strength cow's milk for older kids). But be sure to avoid fatty foods or foods high in simple sugars, such as juices and soft drinks. Resuming an age-appropriate diet early is essential in supplying your child with necessary calories and nutrients and can even reduce the duration of gastroenteritis.

Some old wives' tales about treating dehydration are not recommended. For example, the practice of withholding food for more than 24 hours is inappropriate and can be unsafe. Likewise, specific diets that have been commonly recommended in the past — such as the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) — are unnecessarily restrictive and do not provide the best nutrition for a child's recovering intestinal tract. Also, over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea or vomiting are not recommended for kids, as they can have dangerous side effects. Appropriate fluids — not medicines — are the key to treatment.

Some dehydrated kids do not improve when given an oral rehydration solution, especially if they have very frequent bouts of explosive diarrhea or frequent vomiting. Kids, who can't replace losses because of ongoing vomiting, difficulty swallowing, repeated episodes of diarrhea, or other reasons, might need to receive intravenous (IV) fluids in the hospital.

If you're treating your child for dehydration at home and feel that there's no improvement or that the dehydration is worsening, call your doctor right away or take your child to the nearest emergency department.

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