In Turkey and ds1 and dd4 have S&D bug- how to stop dehydration?

[miniworry]

We are on the last day of our holiday and both the kids have been struck down with a vomiting and diarrhea bug. My DD (4) is able to stomach and drink some apple juice and 7up/flat Pepsi so I'm happy she is drinking enough fluid but I'm worried about my DS (1)as he's a nightmare to get to drink at the best of times. He's thrown up his milk feed tonight too.

I've been syrringing in some oral rehydration fluid when I can but he hates it- is this going to be enough?

Our flight isn't until tomorrow evening and I just want to be at home now 😭

Oh no I feel for you. Difficult one.

Small kids can get dehydrated fast so unless you can get some rehydration into him on a regular basis I would think about getting some medical attention. Are you in a good hotel with a medic or links to a medical centre/doctor? It’s always worth getting advice with little ones. Even if it’s just for your peace of mind.

Have you been eating at a buffet by any chance?

If your son is 1 you can either syringe in milk if they can keep this down or dilute apple juice, or other clear juice/cordial/squash with sugar, water or offer jelly/ice lollies (made with ORS or clear juices diluted). Used boiled water if local water is an issue or bottled water. 5mls every 5 minutes. If they aren't keeping that down then seek medical advice. Keep an eye on how many wet nappies, if they have only had one in an 8 hour period then seek medical advice.

If you need to use bottled water, remember that any bottled water that is labelled ‘natural mineral water’ might contain too much sodium or sulphate for babies. Check the label to make sure the figure for sodium (sometimes labelled as Na) isn’t higher than 200 milligrams (mg) a litre. Sulphate shouldn’t be higher than 250mg/l, you might need to look for ‘SO’ or ‘SO4’ on the label as these also mean sulphate.

@picturethispatsy yes our hotel has a doctor but they only work daytime hours and it's currently 2:20am here 😭 we are keeping going with the syringing every 5 minutes! But he's just been sick again and another awful nappy.

Look up the local health care facility for walk in in your area and local taxi services if you need transport so you have that option if he doesn't improve.

Emergency number is 112 if you feel you need it at any point, ambulance control may be able to assist you finding a local doctor.

Also an online option for help/reassurance overnight, they do video consultations.

https://doctorsa.com/find/

Most d and v passes within 24 hours.

the littlest one is still doing nappies and so I wouldn’t pay for a doctor to tell you what you already know, that they have a bug! Unless you feel you cannot fly home and in which case medical paperwork will be required for insurance purposes.

the doctors also cannot really give any medication you aren’t already using and so don’t waste your money.

ensure excellent hand washing to try and reduce the chance of you catching it

Flat 7up was the go to when I was a child. Try not to panick. Children get tummy bugs especially on holidays with strange food.

Ice lollies... particularly the cheaper/ plainer ones if you can find a cola or lemonade flavour.

@Temporaryname158 I need to get on that flight tomorrow as I just want to get home! He hadn't had a wet nappy for some hours but has had one since, everything just feels so much worse in another country in the middle of the night!

I grew up away from medical services in the 60s, and the company tropical medicine Doc told us to do this for d&v.

Get a can of coke, Fanta or Sprite - they are made in sterile conditions, regulated internationally, so no risk of further infection. Let a glass of the stuff go flat and then add a pinch of salt - just enough to give it a very slightly salty taste. It has the right balance of salt and glucose for rehydration. I used it with my kids when we lived overseas, and it works well.

Boiling water with half a teaspoon of sugar dissolved into it and a pinch of salt. Let it cool, add a tiny amount of orange squash to flavour. Lots of tiny sips.

When ds had d &v at that age to keep on putting it in at the top, no matter how much was coming out. Don't give plain water, it will just bounce, either add sugar or give weak squash or flat full fat pop, they will absorb much better, have you got a calpol type medicine syringe? Syringe 5ml every 5 minutes, that amount shouldn't be enough to make them sick, when they have tolerated that for a couple of hours, then increase to 10ml, once they haven't been sick for 2-3 hours, offer something plain like a cracker or digestive biscuit, tiny amounts until they feel like eating more. Make sure you wash your hands & anything you touch, you don't want to catch it off them. When you have gone through security at the airport, buy a carton of something like Ribena, you can continue to rehydrate on the plane.

How is he this morning @miniworry?

@Choconuttolata he's absolutely fine in himself, crawling around everywhere- tried him with some bana and cold chicken sandwich meat for breakfast and he brought that back up 🤦‍♀️ and has also done an awful poo but it's slightly lumpy so a lot less watery (sorry tmi). He's had a full beaker of water and a wet nappy although not a heavy one. Been to the pharmacy and got some medication for stomach bugs so hopefully this gets us home!

@miniworry from experience do NOT give food if you want to get him home without an accident. Just forget food for now, the only important thing is getting fluids into him and some salts if you can. His tummy needs a rest or you will keep aggravating it. Good luck!

Op gently, you can’t take them on the plane if they are still having bad nappies. Have you contacted your insurance?

This.

If they have a bug that’s contagious- which it may well be- you can’t be spreading it round the flight. Many people (like me) have compromised immune systems or are on medication that makes you immunocompromised, we’re entitled to a holiday too and if people intentionally get on a plane when they’re unwell you’re literally putting lives at risk. I know it’s awful when you just want to get home but it may be best if you delay your flights until you’re all well.

Stop the milk for now, stick to water or flat fizzy drinks. Hope he feels better soon