Stomach Bug? How to Keep Your Child from Getting Dehydrated
1st
Oct
2020
| A QUICK LOOK Stomach bugs in children are common. Most of the time, you can manage them at home. Encouraging your child to drink plenty of fluids is most important. Oral rehydration therapy is a simple at-home method to prevent dehydration. |
Stomach bugs in children are very common. They can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. It can be a challenge to get your child to drink enough, because they don’t feel good. Dehydration can result. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is a method well known by doctors. It’s very effective in preventing dehydration and can easily be done at home. If your child has several episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, and they’re refusing to drink, you can try ORT. This is for children older than 6 months of age who are otherwise healthy. For children younger than 6 months or children who have health problems that make dehydration more likely, call your doctor for advice. With ORT, you give small amounts of fluid every few minutes over several hours. This method helps the intestines to absorb fluid and helps reduce vomiting, and may help avoid a trip to the doctor’s office or emergency room. Watch this animated video to learn how to do ORT at home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Oo2ykRjBQ If you have questions about doing ORT at home, talk to your child’s primary care provider. |