Before looking at Stomach Flu Symptoms In Kids and Babies, it’s good to find out first, what is a stomach flu? Stomach Flu is a disease that attacks the intestines, stomach and digestion caused by viruses and bacteria, which in the medical language is gastroenteritis.
This disease generally affects infants and toddlers because the baby’s and toddler’s body are still less strong and easily affected by viruses or bacteria.
Stomach Flu Symptoms In Kids
Vomiting and diarrhea are health disorders that often attack the child. However, be careful. It could be diarrhea and fever in the child is a symptom of stomach flu or gastroenteritis diseases. Despite the name of the stomach flu, this disease has nothing to do with the respiratory system and the influenza virus.
Stomach Flu or gastroenteritis is usually characterized by vomiting and diarrhea due to infection or inflammation of the digestive tract walls, especially the stomach and intestines.
The disease often attacked children. This is due to the children’s immune system that has not been formed perfectly, making them more susceptible to viruses and bacteria in the food or in the surrounding environment.
Diarrhea and Vomiting
The main symptoms of stomach flu are diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms usually do not appear quickly and will appear gradually at 1-3 days after the infection. These symptoms usually last for 1-2 days, but it can also last up to 10 days.
Give nausea medication to reduce vomiting. Do not eat and drink for 1 hour after taking nausea medication, wait for the drug reaction to work.
In addition to vomiting and diarrhea, the child who suffers from stomach flu also usually has other symptoms, such as:
Fever and chills
Because inside the body there is a virus or bacteria, so the body will be fever, because the body is fighting the virus or bacteria. For the size of the fever differs with each person.
Give it a dose of heat-lowering medicine, every 4 hours. When the heat is more than 39 degrees, it is good to be given a hot-lowering drug through the anus, usually the effect is faster (to prevent seizures when the heat is too high).
No appetite
Try with a variety of the child’s favorite food. Not necessarily in many quantities, which is important often, in order to keep the food intake.
Dehydration
One of the symptoms that parents must know is dehydration. Diarrhea and vomiting can make the child dehydrated, because he lacks fluid in his body. Mild dehydration usually does accompany gastroenteritis and will quickly improve with many fluids.
The danger is severe dehydration. If not treated immediately, it can be fatal, because the body organs need a certain amount of fluid to function normally. How do you recognize a dehydration in the child?
Symptoms of dehydration such as dry mouth, frequent thirst, tears do not come out when crying, sunken eyes, weak bodies, lethargy, and irritability.
As for the signs of severe dehydration, children look always sleepy, pale skin, not urination marked from dry diapers, as well as rapid breath.
Other symptoms
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fuss
- Muscle and joint pain.
Read also:
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Stomach Flu Symptoms In Babies
According to The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, there are some symptoms of stomach flu in babies that need a Mom bewares. Here’s the list.
- Feeling unwell and being fussy
- Don’t want to eat or drink
- Vomiting in the first 24 to 48 hours (usually before diarrhea begins)
- Suffer from diarrhea, which can last up to 10 days
- Suffering from abdominal pain
- Experiencing fever
- Experiencing muscular pain
Well, if the symptoms of stomach flu in the baby does not improve, should immediately take your child to the Doctor. Usually, you will be asked to collect stool samples to be sent to the laboratory.
The goal, determining the cause of infection. Stool samples can help in getting rid of bacterial or parasitic infections that can cause similar symptoms.
Read also:
Benefits and How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Acid Reflux
Thank you very much for reading Stomach Flu Symptoms In Kids and Babies, hopefully useful.
