DS with gastroentiritis

[jackeroo]

we had a panic trip to A&E with DS 9 months on sat night. he'd been throwing up that day but seemed fine in himself. that night he threw up in the cot and i went to get him. he looked very green, clammy, very high temp, listless and floppy and almost not opening his eyes. it was scary but turned out to be a gastro thing (don't think they actually knew) which isn't uncommon. he's been asleep most of the time since - but wakes regularly for water or milk (sometimes it stays down). he also has terrible diorhhea (sp?) and no energy. he's never been ill before. has anyone had experience with this type of thing - any idea how long it lasts and when he'll eat properly again?

[pinotgrigio]

Hi Jackeroo. So sorry to hear about your DS. It's really scary isn't it? My DD has had repeated gastroenteritis infections since about the same age.

Sometimes it will last for a day or two, other times she's been affected for a couple of weeks.

Did you get a reasonable amount of advice from A&E about keeping him hydrated with water & dioralyte and trying to starve the bug?

When I lived in Italy my paediatrician there advised me to drop dairy when DD had gastroenteritis, so I would put her onto soy milk. She also told me to follow the BRAT diet - Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast. I would take appropriate advice from your own GP though, as your DS is so little (my DD was 11 months at the time, but different countries can offer different advice sometimes. Some children are also sensitive to Soy too, so now DD is off formula I give her goats milk whenever she has a flare up).

It's so horrible to see them lying there all listless. I hope he feels a bit better soon.

[jackeroo]

thanks pino - we did get some advice but it was fairly vague. i've been giving him the dioralyte. at first it seemed to come back up (think i let him guzzle too much) but now it's staying down better. didn't know about the dairy thing but sounds sensible - i've been planning to give him a bit of bland puree soon to see how it goes - maybe potato based ones. will try the BRAT foods. he's still so listless and flops when i pick him up - but at least he's eating/drinking a bit, and it's only been 2 days... many thanks for the info ...

[jackeroo]

forgot to ask - have you ever been told what causes it? is it a contagious thing? (it seemed they didn't know exactly what it was, just that the symptoms are pretty common) very sorry to hear your DD has had it repeatedly...

[pinotgrigio]

Hi Jackeroo. Sorry to hear DS is still poorly.

I was told that it is contagious and that you should be very careful when changing nappies/washing soiled sheets (try to wash them in as hot a wash as possible). Always wash your hands really carefully too after dealing with nappies/sick.

I assume you're still sterilising bottles/spoons/feeding equipment anyway, but I would also sterilise dummies/anything else DS puts in his mouth too while he's still got the bug.

I hope he perks up soon. I'm glad he's able to take the dioralyte. I keep being told that's the most important thing.

[jackeroo]

thanks! we had a follow up trip to the GP this morning. he's a bit better now although not himself. he still has explosive diorrhea and is not very energetic. GP told me to feed him only boiled veg and rice for now - and diluted formula. but think the worst is over now... phew...