Should you starve a sickness bug?

[tortoisefairy]

DS1 is 4 and has had a sickness bug since Monday. The sickness is becoming less frequent and he has an appetite but is not keeping anything down. Today for the first time his body went 3 hours before being sick after drinking water but all food comes straight up.

I was thinking if he only had water for 24 hours this may help? Just tell him he can't eat today? What do you think?

He is drinking and peeing and pooing (once normal yesterday) okay so should I just let it run its course or given that we are in day 4 call the doctor? Will they just say 'it's a virus, rest hydrate etc' as I don't want to drag him all the way there to be told this.

He has moments of being okay in himself, playing moaning etc. but mostly is listless on the sofa.

Should I be more worried as he doesn't have diarhoea? Or is this good?

Thanks for you help and experience

Unless he is asking for food I wouldnt
If he is hungry try him with a plain biscuit or toast
ITs been a long time though hasnt it>

You should call GP for advice but current NHS Direct advice is NOT to starve D and V bugs. Plain carbs - doesn't matter if unhealthy so crisps / biscuits / dry cereals all fine. Also try and get dioralyte in - disguise in squash if won't tolerate. OR flat coke, lucozade. DS will be getting weak if no food so little and often dry snacks better than nowt. Do call GP though - 4 days is a long time.

I agree with sixtyfootdoll, bitter experience has taught me to stick to liquids until they are begging for food.

I give flat lemonade in a medicine syringe at first, 2.5 ml, then 5ml, every 5 mins (so they absorb a bit through their cheeks even if they are sick later), the diarolyte by the syringe, or diarloyte icecubes.

Mine have done 4-5 days without food, but I did speak to my doctor during that time, who told me to look out for signs of deyhdration. Your doc will probably advise over the phone.

I usually try to starve them for 24 hours and if they don't throw up in that time, I give them a small bowl of porridge made with water and a little salt and sugar. My Mum alwayssaid it lines the stomach and I must say, it worked yet again 6 weeks ago.

I always completely starve a stomach bug and fingers crossed we've so far never had one thats lasted more than 24 hours.

I would give your ds no food until tomorrow morning, then let him have a banana, a rice cake, or some apple.

Keep going with the flat coke or lucozade though. Poor little lad.

Good luck .

Look at NICE guidelines for D&V in children on their website. All researched and up to date. Warning signs etc listed.