Rotavirus? To feed or not to feed.

[Stretch]

DD2 (age 3) has had an awful tummy bug since last thurs, vomiting for 3 days, then on sat night started with the diarrhea.
Sunday lunchtime she perked up and we started feeding her. She went back to nursery yesterday (tues) and seemed fine, but refused to eat anything for tea last night.

She has just woken up with the worst diarrhea. Again! I thought it'd cleared up. Does it sound like rotavirus? I am starting to worry about her getting dehydrated now as well, she has cracked lips and dry skin.

Do I feed her? She is very hungry. Also what rehydration drinks/powders do I give her (if any)

Thanks, excuse any typos etc.. am very tired!

I posted the exact same thread on Monday as my DD has Rotavirus. Feed her as normal, there is no evidence to say not to feed dairy products or anything so just give her what she normally eats.

I have had my DD on diarolyte but it tastes foul so I had to chuck some ribena in it - not ideal but works!

My GP said to try liquidy food too to help rehydrate, soups etc. It's horrible though isn't it?! Can last for up to 10 days too

My almost identical thread that has a good NHS link on it.

Hi, Dd1 has had a bug since sunday, she's almost better apart from the diarrhea, i took her to the GP on monday, they advised to starve her for 24 hours and let her drink what ever she liked, she recomended sugary drinks such as Ribeana and lucazade(sp) because sugar and salt will her rehydrate and give her energy.

I think the diarrhea seems to last a while in little ones. Give her plenty to drink and maybe some ice lollies, hope she feels better soon. Dd1 is going back to school tomorrow (fingers crossed).

Thank you. Sorry, didn't notice other thread. Hope your DD is feeling better!

10 days!!! Oh god, I hope not.

I have had to ring her nursery as well to grovel. She did have 44 hours after the last episode of diarrhea, I know it's not the 48 required, but near as and she wasn't bad at nursery. They were fine about it, but I feel guilty now.

I always thought you had to avoid dairy, is it an old wives tale?

Lol! Sorry ewe for almost copying word for word your thread title!!!! I should have just searched and read yours!

Thanks Marne, ice lollies are a good idea, will try them.

We normally try not to give the DCs food if they are being sick as it seems cruel, but I suppose it's ok when they have diarrhea?

DD has this now and has had D&V since Sunday evening. She has her perkier moments but I have found that if she has any milk at all she brings it all back up after about 10 minutes.

She is eating bananas, toast and rice and managing to keep it down.

Give diorolyte if you think she is getting dehydrated then speak to your GP. Diorolyte does taste foul though and like Ewe I have to 'hide' it in ribena for her to drink any. Last time DD had this my mum bought her some fruit shoots and it was the only thing she would drink. Not this time though I am just giving her ribena.

Also try soups and 'watery' food like that with a bit of bland bread if she will take it. Even the smallest amount of fluid will help her.

Hope she feels better soon.

Ok, good link, but from the symptoms bit, the signs of dehydration, she has;

-dry mouth and eyes,
-no tears are produced when the child cries,
-sunken appearance of the eyes,
-passing urine infequently

I think I may have to take her to the dr? Or I am worrying needlessly?

I'm feeding dd1 as normal even though she still has diarrhea, she seems well in herself, i'm just making sure she gets extra fluids. I think dd2 had it last week but only had diarrhea, she gets diarrhea a lot and doesn't make a fuss so i didn't really notice she was ill until dd1 came down with it.

I would take her in if you are worried, when i took dd1 on monday she was so floppy, couldn't walk, had sunken eyes and looked really ill. She bucked up after 24 hours after drinking a lot of sugary drinks.

That's ok Stretch I would prob go to GP if she has all of those symptoms - is she drinking at all?

I am taking my DD this afternoon as she has a rash, better safe than sorry!

Well she's just had an ice lolly, Dh bought some for her!

She is drinking, but is being stubborn. She has a bit then refuses any more! She's constantly 'going' though which is worrying as she's losing whatever fluids she's taking in. She also has really blue lips, purple even. I have no idea why, but we are taking her drs this pm.

Hope yor DD is ok. Let me know.

My DS (17 months) was hospitalized last week due to Rotavirus. Please watch very carefully for dehydration. DS was in a VERY bad way with it. Nurses at hospital said to hold off on Dairy for the first couple of days as it would curdle in his tummy and make him vomit. Hope DD gets better. Stretch DO take her to the doctor sooner rather than later.

Thanks puppie. Hope your DD is on the mend. How did you know she was dehydrated?

I have to wait until DH gets home to take her as I won't manage with all 3 on my own. Typical that I'm suffering from hyperemesis too! It's a race to the bathroom!

Stretch he just could not keep any fluid down. First signs were he became limp and listless, he had trouble focusing and he had dark rings under his eyes and they were slightly sunken. This happened over a period of six hours so very fast. He was vomiting every 20 mins though. I feel for you! Not the best time for Hyperemesis!

Whoops, sorry DS not DD

My DD1 was worth her weight in gold this morning, she helped me with DD2 and even sat reading to her while DD2 was on the loo! She's only 7!

I prefer the diarrhea to sickness though. It was really hurting her stomach and throat.

I agree and for what its worth paed at hospital said to me that Diarrhoea is lesser of two evils because its at least been through the system before it comes out (still not good though).