Sick Belly Diet
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Children, and adults, in the midst of a nasty bout with a stomach virus need to nurture their bodies with a little tender loving care.
First and foremost, make sure fluids lost through diarrhea and vomiting are adequately replenished to avoid dehydration. Steven Friesen, M.D., a pediatrician with Pediatric Consultants of Ashland and Mansfield, recommends avoiding juices and other fluids loaded with sugar.
Instead, stick to Pedialyte ® , water, or sports drinks diluted with an equal amount of water. Drink fluids slowly and in small amounts so your sick belly is better able to tolerate the liquids. Watch for signs of dehydration, which includes dry lips and mouth, lack of tears or poor urine output.
According to Dr. Friesen, a child in diapers should have at least half the amount of wet diapers, or diapers that are half as wet as normal. Older children should be voiding several times a day, or half of what is normal for them.
Once fluids are tolerable, gradually introduce the BRATY diet. BRATY stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and yogurt. These items are easier to digest, providing a mild, yet nutritional diet, for sensitive stomachs.
For fevers associated with a stomach virus, Dr. Friesen recommends using acetaminophen, as ibuprofen tends to cause upset stomachs in some children.
Many viruses cause gastroenteritis, which is commonly misinterpreted as the flu, but it is unrelated to influenza. As a result, influenza vaccinations do not provide protection against the viruses that cause gastroenteritis.
“There is a vaccination available for the Rotavirus, one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis,” Dr. Friesen explained. “It is a relatively new vaccination with two versions, and is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.”
The vaccination is administered orally, and is only available to infants. Both vaccines are given in a series, and must be started between the ages of two to four months of age. Rotavirus vaccines may be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines.
Rotavirus disease causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Vomiting is of special concern in children, because it is difficult to get fluids in a child who is vomiting persistently.
“If in doubt with any ill child, have your child seen by the pediatrician or family doctor,” Dr. Friesen said. “We would rather see people err on the side of caution.”
