My three year old daughter has caught the flu or some sort of stomach virus. She has been throwing up for two days and isnt able to hold anything down-that is when I convince her to eat something, which hasn't been much. she's been drinking fluids(water, Ginger Ale, and has had a popcicle here and there). I'm out of ideas--should I just take her to the Emergency Room?
I wouldn't want to expose her to more germs at the hospital while her immune system is down if I didn't have to.
You should take her for IV fluids if she becomes dehydrated however which can happen very quickly with stomach viruses.
If she is still going to the bathroom regularly and she is still drinking then it is unlikely she is dehydrated.
Call her pediatrician's office for real medical advice.
I'd switch to pedialyte instead of water or ginger ale, to replace her electrolytes. And push her to drink small sips all the time. But otherwise - what does she look like?
Is she urinating? Is she very listless - doesn't want to move around? Is she running a high fever? If she cries, are there tears?
Basically, you want to watch for dehydration. She can go without food, but severe dehydration is very serious and warrants a visit to the hospital. So, if she's listless and floppy, not urinating, or is crying without tears - definitely go to the ER. Otherwise, keep watching her and pushing fluids.
If she's still not holding food down on Monday, I'd go to the ped's office to get there opinion (although usually there is nothing you can do for a stomach virus but wait it out).
Has she had a very high fever? Is she urinating? If she's just throwing up there's not much they can do at the ER, and you'll probably sit there for a long time. She's better off at home where she's comfortable, and where she won't spread her germs around, or pick up other germs.
If your pediatrician has a nurse line call them for advice.
Stomach symptoms are not the flu, which is respiratory. But the dozens of common gut bugs can cause real distress.
An emergency room visit is probably over the top. Unless your child is getting listless or dehydrated, a few days without food will not harm her when her appetite has vanished. Some health professionals think that feeding when there is no appetite is not needed, and has the potential to extend the symptoms. My grandson is occasionally struck with a gut virus (or once hand, foot and mouth disease) and has been unable to eat for up to 5 days. He loses weight visibly (and he's already slender), but regains it quickly when he can start eating again. It's usually safe to follow the child's appetite. But DO keep pushing liquids, and be sure she is peeing regularly.
First make sure shes not dehydrated than try some pedialyte small sips don't rush it, any little bit that stays down is a great help for the dehydration very important!!!! Also this has always been a great relief for my girls and myself . Make jello any flavor as usual but don't put in fridge, let cool and have her take tiny little sips. Idk what it does but it has worked like a charm every time, I think it helps coat the stomach. After a day or less start the BRAT diet, bannans, rice(plain), applesauce, or dry toast in small amounts. Good luck hope she's better soon!!!
It's probably just a norovirus.
She doesn't really need to eat - you can go a long time without solid food.
But she does need to drink and as long as she's drinking (water, ginger ale, Pedialyte, clear soup broth) it's just a matter of waiting till she feels like eating solid food again - might be a few days or it might be a week.
There's no need for a run to the ER unless she stops drinking fluids.
When she's wanting solids give her easy soft food - mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soup, yogurt and slowly get her back into eating what she always eats.
BRAT (bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast) is for diarrhea - not vomiting.
Throwing up doesn't necessarily means she'll have diarrhea but if she does then BRAT is fine.
I agree with the other responses who say keep her hydrated and wait it out. If she is showing signs of dehydration or has pain, then have her seen. But if it's just viral symptoms, keep her hydrated and wait it out. Go to the pedi on Monday if she's not better. Stomach bugs can take 3 or more days to clear sometimes.
As someone else mentioned, stomach bugs are not influenza - she doesn't have "the flu" so no need to worry about that. If she isn't able to keep down fluids, stops urinating, is listless, etc. then it's time to worry. Hopefully she'll be back to her regular self soon.
If she's drinking and holding down liquids, then you're probably ok to just wait it out at home. I wouldn't offer gatorade, however; the electolytes in it are hard on a little kid's kidneys, particularly if you're already dealing with a dehydration situation. Pedialyte is formulated for kids, so I'd go that route.
If she can't even hold down liquids, starts peeing less, or just complains of being really, really thirsty and can't quench it, then go ahead and go to the er.
BRAT diet, pretzels and Gatorade. There is nothing else you can do for a stomach virus.
Take her to the doctor she may have Roto virus. Get her some PEDIALYTE popcicles.
Urgent care. When my kids were 3, they still put everything in their mouths so she probably has a stomach virus. If so, there's not much you can do, but make sure she stays well-hydrated. Still, it's best to have it checked out. The last time I had strep, my throat didn't even hurt that badly, but I couldn't stop vomiting.
yes, go to the ER-little children can rapidly dehydrate
She could have an inner ear infection. My friends daughter was trowing up for days and she thought it was a flu that would pass. When it didn't she took her to the dr. and it was an infection. Good luck.
Take.her.to.the.Doctor.
I would also worry about dehydration.
You don't know why she is throwing up.
You cannot guess at it.
Only a Doctor can diagnose her.
It has been going on for 2 days already.
You don't even know, if she has a stomach virus or Flu or not.
Intestinal blockage, for example, can cause those same symptoms.
