Gastroenteritis?

[ihearttc]

Ended up in hospital with DS2 on tuesday with Gastroenteritis...Dr said it was actually Rotavirus if it makes any difference.

Only reason we went to hospital was all the night before he was making really odd gagging noises and seemed to have difficultly swallowing...he had his milk in the morning and it literally didn't even get down before it came straight back up again so had a bit of a mummy panic on and thought something was obstructed somewhere and went to A&E. Dr's there thought obstruction as well so we were then about to go for x-ray when he started being sick and had diarhea everywhere.

Observed for 5 hours and then they sent us home with instructions to keep him drinking etc. This was tuesday and 2 days on he still isn't much better. He isn't really being sick but still has diarhea which in itself wouldn't worry me but he's so so sleepy and is just on my lap all day. This is unheard of for him...he's 16 months and he doesn't do cuddles.

He is actually drinking quite well-we've got diarolyte and they told me to give him some squash as well which he's drinking but he won't eat anything (not even a chocolate biscuit) and he is so sleepy that Im actually quite worried about him.

Can't get Dr's appointment until tomorrow but just wondered if thats normal for him to be like that?

He's been ill before with sick bugs and ear infections as had DS1 and Im not normally worried but this has absolutely knocked him for 6. He was prem as well so has hardly any spare fat to lose bless him.

Its not unusual for diarrhoea to last 5-7 days, though it does gradually ease. Provided he is having regular (4 ish hourly) full wet nappies and reacting to you normally, I wouldnt worry, it is normal to be lethargic with a tummy bug. He's got a virus and it takes its toll on little ones particularly, but is nasty even in adults. Eating isnt important, and he will just eat when he is ready, just keep offering light foods. Avoid fizzy (even when flat) drinks and pure fruit juices. There no magic cure, it just takes time.

Thank you! Yes he is reacting normally when he's awake...but then climbs back on my lap in about 10 mins and falls straight back to sleep again. It's so out of character for him (even when he's got a sky high temp when he gets ear ache he's running around all over the place) but like you say it's probably taking its toll on him.

He ate a little pasta for tea tonight and has had some more water and has gone to sleep again...hopefully he'll be a bit brighter tomorrow.

As long as he is drinking and weeing thats all that matters. If you've got the dioralyte down him thats a bonus and unusual as its vile! Sleeping is very normal but seems to freak out mums who are used to rampaging toddlers.

Rotavirus lasts quite a while, dont worry if he is still having the odd explosion in a week, as long as he is weeing and not dehydrated.

Avoid milk and milk products as this causes the bug to thrive and takes longer to go.

Hope he is better soon

Thanks everyone! Still not much better. No more sickness and hasn't had diarahea since yesterday afternoon but is still sleeping constantly. He didn't eat anything at all yesterday despite me tempting him with everything in the house he just wasn't interested.

Took him GP who said no ear infection or anything and he's not dehydrated so just to carry on and see how he goes.

Must admit to being surprised we managed to get diarolyte down him as well but he's a strange child and likes medicine so that might be why lol...we've got blackcurrant flavour!

It's just the sleepiness thats worrying me. He's also got a rather strange underlying heart condition which we're waiting to go to GOSH about. It shouldn't cause problems like this (ie the tiredness etc) but there's something niggling at the back of my mind that there might be something else going on.

Will see how he goes over weekend and then try GP again on monday if not any better.

While I think you should get it checked out if it's worrying you, I just wanted to add that DS has currently got rotavirus and slept for around 39 hours non stop (apart from drinks and poos). It's day 5 now and he's a bit less sleepy but still wiped out. Hope it passes soon for you.