When to get help for stomach bug?

[Springbaby2023]

Just after some advice on when to get help for a stomach but in my 2.5 year old.

He was sent home from nursery on Thursday after being sick three times, sick again Thursday night but absolutely fine in himself. Fine all day Friday then sick Friday evening. Diarrhoea started yesterday but no sickness until bedtime (then a lot of sick) - both Friday and Saturday kept down plain food and liquid in the day. Then this morning he’s basically been throwing up just water. He’s had a dry nappy overnight for the last three nights but has been weeing ok in the day.

I’ve got him to take a couple of sips of water and he’s gone back off to sleep (unusual for him as he’s usually up at the crack of dawn).

Concerned about dehydration but also don’t want to rush him to A&E unless I decide it’s really necessary as I am home alone with both kids and my eldest was sick for the first time yesterday too.

So basically do you think I’m ok to monitor him and keep trying to get water in him, or should I be more worried and be taking him in to get them to check if he’s dehydrated?

I should add my partner is coming back later today so I was thinking if he’s still not drinking much / keeping much down by then I could take him in

I’m so sorry to hear this - it’s so worrying when our little ones are ill. Have you tried dioralyte and ice lollies? I get nice organic ones or the Jude Fruit Rockets as they’re natural and my little one can usually suck away at one of those. It’s a nice gentle way to get some fluids in.

There are definitely bugs going around - we’ve all been vomiting this week too. I perhaps wouldn’t rush to A&E just yet but do try the ice lollies and maybe some dioralyte to help stop the diarrhoea. Good luck xx

I have ice lollies and sugary squash to get today as I’ve heard that is good, just need to work out how to get some with two sick kids! Hoping my partner will be able to get home sooner than planned and get some on his way. I thought he was completely over it yesterday.

Years ago, when doctors actually bothered to come out, my 3 year old daughter went down with D&V on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day we called the doctor out as I feared she was getting dehydrated (by then she couldn’t keep water down) and he sent us to hospital. She was admitted and put on a drip. When she came on duty, the night sister was very worried about my daughter; she told me to never underestimate dehydration in babies and young children. As a student, she’d seen an 18 month odd arrest and die upon admittance to the ward. We stayed in hospital for 4 days, until eating and drinking were completely back to normal, and bloods were normal.

Call 111 and tell them you suspect dehydration.

@Noseyoldcow It’s definitely the dehydration that’s my worry. Whenever I’ve called 111 before they always seem to send you straight to A&E with young kids, we don’t seem to have an out of hours emergency service here. He is currently sleeping so I will check his nappy when he wakes up and if still dry and he doesn’t go to the toilet when I take it off I’ll give them a call.

Alder Get guidelines here. I found them very helpful when LO had norovirus at 8 months and rotavirus at 12 months https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/symptoms-checker/diarrhoea-vomiting/

LO didn't end up in A&E for either of those, but for rotavirus we saw the GP on a Friday and a Monday because of the fever - GP wanted LO back in to check things were improving. We also got advice on when to go to A&E (basically that Alder Hey guide). I gave LO Diarolyte double action (rice flour for diarrhoea).

Thank you that’s helpful. He’s up now and insisted on toast and then promptly threw it all back up and asked for more. I’m just hoping some of the water he’s drinking is staying down. Still no wee, been about 14 hours now (if I’m right with the clock change) so will give it another hour now he’s up and drinking then decide whether to call.