Stomach bug going on and on - what is reasonable to ask GP to do?

[FraterculaArctica]

We have had an awful summer. DD (2) had mild vomiting on 27th July and has had on off diarrhoea ever since. She's in nursery 4 days a week and nursery only has a 24 hour exclusion, so she has been in a lot but also missed quite a number of days. DS (4) is about to start YR and had the same pattern, though seems to now be clearing up. She's fine in herself, no more vomiting, eating fine.

Took her to the GP a week ago who said monitor for a month. I don't know if this is reasonable or whether I should be pushing for some sort of tests - the amount she's off nursery is ridiculous and I just can't see how a bug can go on and on for 5 weeks. Anyone any experience of similar?

I presume you've already tried cutting right back on dairy for a week or two then gradually reintroducing? Temporary lactose intolerance is probably the single most common reason for longer duration of diarrhoea, after a bug, in young children in this country. Test and treatment in one go...

If your DD only vomited on the one occasion back in July and has had diarrhea on and off since then it doesn't necessarily sound like a bug.

Could be that she's become temporarily sensitive to something like PP suggests. Milk is harder for LOs to digest than dairy that has been made into something - ie yoghurt or cheese. You could try reducing milk intake and see what happens.

Have you googled toddler diarrhea? It's very common.

Also adding probiotics into her diet may well help - live yoghurt or supplements.

Did she get the rota virus vaccine as a child?

It sounds very like it, ds had bad smelling runny poos for ages, though Iirc not runny enough to stay off Nursery. In the end I went to the gp, they suggested a test which showed rota virus. No treatment other than to wait for it to clear.

Milk possibly made it worse I can't remember. I think I used probiotics.

sorry for tmi: is it smelly? or just runny?
might be what's called 'toddlerhoea'
my dc had that following a bug. lasted a couple of years then stopped on it's own.

I suggest you get a probiotic for her.
Should really help