Suggest Treatment For Diarrhea And Vomiting In A Child

Posted on Wed, 1 Mar 2017

Question: Hi, My 5.5 month old apparently has gastroentertis since Tuesday only vomitting 4 times without diarreah, the doc told me to put him on pedialtye for 24hrs and solid puree9. Wednesday no vomit after the first episode. Thursday he went back to day care drank formula and vomited 2 times. Back on the pedialtye but this time mixed with formula for half of Thursday and all day Friday and no more vomiting (Mommy got it at this point and was sick all day Friday vomiting and diarrhea) Saturday I decided to go back to just formula and at noon after nap he vomited AGAIN! At this point I'm nervous not knowing if its formula allergies or what. We took him to the ER where he was diagnosed with Gastroentertis, they said he was hydrated, no fever just probably the acids are bothering him. They sent him Zantac every 12 hrs for 7 days. He didn't throw up the rest of the day till today Sunday. I drank 2oz of pedialtye and 2 of formula and he vomited. I don't know what else to do? He's 5.5 months old. Can a stomach bug last this long? By the way he only had very small diarrhea 1 time a day. Please help I am so nervous!

At first I didn't think it was the stomach bug till my husband and I both got it. I probably thought it was formula allergy or over feeding of that sort.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Proper hydration is the main concern

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. Let me emphasize on the fact that breast milk is the best possible milk for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Most formula milks are cow milk based and hence difficult to digest. That could be the reason for his throwing up. Overfeeding or inadequate burping could be the cause.

In any case, you need to give your child some antiemetic like ondansetron as and when needed, especially before feeds (15 min-30 min prior to feeds). The mainstay of treatment is breast milk and ORS (oral rehydration solution)/pedialyte. Unless the lost salts and fluids are replenished the child would become dehydrated. The urine output needs to be monitored. If the frequency comes down it indicates dehydration and calls for additional supplementation of fluids. But if the child becomes lethargic you would need to take her to a hospital without delay.

You need to be patient. The vomiting may persist for a couple of days before it resolves.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (12 minutes later)

I stopped producing breastmilk when he was 2 months. So formula is my only option. Can this be a milk allergy? I ended up getting the virus too so the doctors are pretty sure its a stomach virus but today is Sunday and there is still occasional vomiting. Why doesn't he stop? Urine is fine and he is hydrated. I took him to the ER yesterday.

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It may continue for another few days

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. It may take a couple of days to stop. Since breast milk is not an option you would have to continue with formula. Milk allergy is a possibility but as of now it can be ignored. Since urine is proper there is nothing to worry. Give ondansetron if needed.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar