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Original poster

4yr old sickness bug - help!

20 replies

Fevs · 10/08/2018 07:46

Hi, I’ve been very fortunate in that my son hasnt ever really had a sickness (puking) bug before now.
Yesterday morning he complained of feeling unwell and he was sick at around 10am and then every 3 -4 hours yesterday.
I only gave him water.
Last night he seemed to get better in himself and wasn’t sick from say 6pm or at all during the night.
I thought perhaps we’d escaped it but then first thing this morning after drinking more water he’s been sick again, twice.

I know these things pass and need to get out of his system but is there anything I can do in the meantime?

He keeps asking for food but of course I won’t while he is still being sick. And I’m trying to limit the water until he stops being sick.
Can I give him any medicine or specific drink or food?
Also how long do these things tend to last...?!
I read somewhere to avoid calpol he feels warm but I don’t think has a temperature - I’m not at him with my thermometer so won’t know that for sure until later today.

Thank you!

OP posts:
SoyDora · 10/08/2018 07:47

I’ve always given food with a sickness bug, although just plain stuff. If he’s asking for food I’d give him food.

SoyDora · 10/08/2018 07:48

And don’t limit water, just make him drink it in small sips (little and often) rather than big long drinks. He’ll need to replace lost fluids.

INeedNewShoes · 10/08/2018 07:50

I'm pretty sure that current advice is that if they're hungry they can have a little something (it's no longer the advice to avoid food during a bug).

I'd keep it plain. A slice of toast maybe.

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KitKatCHA · 10/08/2018 07:51

Ice lollies are great for getting fluids into him. Don't limit water or you risk him gettingng dehydrated. Bland food, my Dr told me to starve for 24hours then reintroduce food slowly.

Quartz2208 · 10/08/2018 07:52

Follow his lead your body tends to tell you what it needs so if he wants water give it to him. I always want lemonade when I have a sickness bug. And it doesn’t matter if some of it comes back up again

Food wise crackers bread etc are good

thethoughtfox · 10/08/2018 07:53

Ice cream is good or half a banana. My child is good at knowing when not to eat and would refuse food until they seemed to know they could keep it down.

Coconutcreampie · 10/08/2018 07:54

Mash some banana and spread it thinly on some toast without butter and allow him small bites every few minutes . His body will need the energy to help him fight the bug. Same as pp re water, small sips. If he's fine In himself then I wouldn't worry about calpol, that only really needs to be used as pain relief. It's use as an antipyretic is really just a side effect of its main purpose but a fever is the bodies way of making itself inhospitable to the virus so unless his temperature is such that he's uncomfortable then there is no need to bring it down. Hope he feels better soon

PerverseConverse · 10/08/2018 07:55

Full sugar lemonade and biscuits. Works every time for mine. If they have no sugar in their system they feel more ill and keep retching as nothing in their systems. Not allowing good or proper drink keeps the bugs in their system longer which is why HCPs never say to starve them now, plus it makes you feel terrible. Hope he's better soon.

Passingwords · 10/08/2018 07:57

I heard banana, rice, apple, toast (BRAT) were good foods for tender tummies, worked for us when trying to reintroduce food that will stay down.

keiratwiceknightly · 10/08/2018 07:58

BRAT diet - bananas rice apples and toast. Sips of Water or flat coke or lemonade can be good. If he is bringing everything up, sucking a chubba chup lolly can help as he will ingest a tiny amount of glucose for energy and it can also help settle an irritated stomach.

lettuceWrap · 10/08/2018 08:05

Don’t limit fluids! But offer a little, often (ice lollies, flat coke etc is good for getting in some easily digested calories).
If he’s asking for food, give him something plain and starchy (easier on the gut), toast, crackers, rice or similar.

DidimusStench · 10/08/2018 08:10

I feel for you. When DD1 was 4 she had this for 3 WEEKS!!! I thought I was going to lose my mind...

Don’t limit water, he’ll get dehydrated and you’ll end up in hospital. If he’s hungry let him eat to move the big through - banana, rice, apple sauce, toast. I know others that swear by clear chicken broth and the broth that’s made by boiling rice. Bio kult capsules seemed to help us too. Good old diarolyte sachets to keep the dehydration away is a must and weak squash is good for keeping his energy up.

Good luck!

Mmmmdanone · 10/08/2018 08:55

Water is massively important. He will get dehydrated if you limit that.

Original poster
Fevs · 10/08/2018 12:37

Hello, thanks all. Some really helpful advice there. It is tricky because advice online often contridicts itself!
I’m not limiting the water at all, completely understand how essential fluids are. I was more just trying to avoid him chugging it down - esp as I had to drive him and my 3 mth old 2 hours in the car home this morning! 🙈 luckily he slept.

I’ve been giving dirolite too.

I may brave some toast now... sent husband out to get other essentials.

At what point do you take them to the doctors if the vomming doesn’t ease up?

Thanks again!

OP posts:
Silversun83 · 10/08/2018 13:17

Yes, agree with PP who say that advice is now to carry on with food if that's what the ill person wants - the body will crave what it needs. I think this has two schools of thought - to give the body energy to help it fight the bug and to also help the body pass the bug quicker - to give it something to attach to. The only exception is to avoid dairy until the symptoms have passed as stomach bugs can cause temporary lactose intolerance so makes the symptoms worse.

I think in most cases vomiting goes away after a few days (but diarrhoea can last longer). I took DD to the GP when she was about a year after 8 days of intermittent vomiting but even then they said to just let it clear up on its own and it did. The only thing you really need to worry about us dehydration - Google the symptoms and keep an eye out. When I had norovirus when pregnant and couldn't keep down even sips of water, I was adviced to try sips of flat lemonade (you can make it flat quickly by pouring it from one glass to the other!), which did the trick.

And can I say you are so lucky to have avoided stomach bugs so far!! In the two years since DD was born, we've all had norovirus twice and DD has had so many other stomach bugs.. particularly when she started nursery. Am hoping she's just getting them all out of the way now! Confused

Silversun83 · 10/08/2018 13:18

*advised

Original poster
Fevs · 10/08/2018 14:02

Hi @silversun
Thank you that is really helpful and yes will definitely keep an eye out. Such a good tip re the flat lemonade.
He goes to Nursery so needless to say he has had tummy bugs resulting in the other end! But weirdly never vomiting?

So it’s all new for us all 😳

OP posts:
Original poster
Fevs · 10/08/2018 14:03

Also... if they get a temperature can you give them calpol? Advice on that is again varying

OP posts:
Coconutcreampie · 10/08/2018 19:35

@fevs see my above post re calpol x

Original poster
Fevs · 10/08/2018 21:39

@Coconutcreampie
Ah sorry I completely missed that!
Perfect, thank u x

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