Stomach flu gong around?
Stomach flu can be viral from
origin, sometimes bacterial. In the ED we have seen many children over the last 5 weeks with stomach flu’s. It seems
to go around.
Some tips for stomach flu. Be sure the child gets enough fluids. Water, broth, tomato and or carrot juice in this order. You
can also give Gatorade ½ diluted with water or pedilite. A water mixture with minerals and sugar to help to keep the body
dehydrated.
Many children do not like pedilite
so water, broth and tomato or carrot juice is as easy to give. No apple juice with diarrhea as apple juice increases diarrhea.
When the child has been on liquids and can hold them down slowly advance by given, a grated apple with cinnamon, rice water,
toast, crackers and slowly advance solids. Go slow as one time vomiting will set you back three steps.
For fever and stomach flu…depends on your vision. Here in U.S. the
medical world will advice you to give Tylenol and or motrim to lower the fever. When I was a RN in Holland we would not take the fever done but let the fever do its job by helping the immune
system fight the bacteria and or viruses…. Up to you. For children under
6, you do not want to not have the fever go above 104 rectal or 103 taken the fever by mouth. This because of a slight chance
of seizures…which is very scary for the parents. We see them regularly in the ED.
Another way, when you are afraid
of high fever especially baby’s and young children is
Dr Vogel’s sock therapy:
Take two pair of socks, one cotton and one woolen pair. (Two cotton socks work too. The cotton pair you wet with luck warm
water and squeeze the water out so the socks are moist. Put the socks on the children’s feet and cover this pair with
the dry pair. Feels so good ….It is as the energy of your head goes down…
For the infection or stomach
flu: Oil of Oregano 6 drops 4 times a day for the first day for children. Just drop it in the mouth and or under the tongue.
They do not need to swallow it.
Dehydration…A possible effect of the stomach flu,
does your child have a dry mouth, lips and tongue? Is his/ her urine dark colored (Catch some urine in a glass and see f it
is amber colored…..These are signs of dehydration. Again, be sure the child gets enough fluids. Water broth, tomato
and or carrot juice in this order. You can also give Gatorade ½ diluted with water or pedilite. A water mixture with minerals
and sugar to help, to keep the body dehydrated. The faster your child hydrates the better for the healing process.
Many children do not like pedilite
(water mixed with salt and sugar to counter act dehydration); water, broth and tomato or carrot juice is as easy to give.
No apple juice with diarrhea, as apple juice increases diarrhea. Tomato and carrot juice both contain potassium which is essential
for you.
For diarrhea?
A complication of the stomach flu. Some people give Imodium/ available over the counter to stop the diarrhea. I prefer to
have the body do its elimination as there is a reason for diarrhea. Decide what you wish. I give acidophilus to restore the
good bacteria in the guts and vitamin c to help the body to eliminate and support the immune system. For children 1000 mg
of vitamin C each hour 4 times in a row.
Emotionally…child illnesses
are a way to confront a new phase in their live it is like going through a growth spurt and parents help them to give the
right nurturing like to a small seedling. A seedling we protect from stormy weather and wind and we make to have enough nutrition
and water and positive attention. Same for our children. Call it a stop exercise. Children need the parent around and extra
love to have you close so their instinctive centers feels secure and has more space to heal. Enjoy these moments, do not wish
them away. There is often something to see that you might not see otherwise. Enjoy these moments and be light like an angel.
This attitude helps your child to heal.
Wish you health and well.
