Vomiting / Diarrhea
WHAT TO DO
- Small but frequent amounts of an oral electrolyte solution every 15 to 20 minutes with a spoon or an oral syringe.
- Gradually increase the amount of solution you’re giving if your child is able to keep it down for more than a couple of hours without vomiting
- Slowly reintroduce formula (for infants), or bland food (for toddlers or older) bananas, applesauce, cereals, soups, toast, rice.
- Avoid milk product in children <1 year with 24 hours of vomiting.
- Call your pediatrician if you notice signs of dehydration
Signs of Dehydration
Mild Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- Few or no tears when crying
- Fussy behavior in infants
- Fewer than four wet diapers per day in an infant (more than 4-6 hours without a wet diaper in a younger infant under 6 months of age)
- No urination for 6-8 hours in children
- Soft spot in infant’s head that looks flatter than usual or somewhat sunken
Severe Dehydration
- Very dry mouth (looks “sticky” inside)
- Dry, wrinkled, or doughy skin
- Inactivity or decreased alertness
- Appears weak or limp
- Sunken eyes
- Sunken soft spot in an infant
- Excessive sleepiness or disorientation
- Deep, rapid breathing
- No urination for more than 6 to 8 hours in infants
- No urination for more than 8-10 hours in children
- Fast or weakened pulse
Bring child to the office if:
- Child under 1 month old and vomiting all feeds
- Projectile or forceful vomiting in an infant (<3 m/o)
- Vomiting starts after a head injury
- Vomiting (without diarrhea) is accompanied by fever
- Vomiting of bright green or yellow- green fluid
- Your child’s belly feels hard, bloated, and painful between vomiting episodes
- Vomiting is accompanied by severe stomach pain
- Vomit resembles coffee grounds (blood that mixes with stomach acid will be brownish in color and looks like coffee grounds)
- Vomiting blood