Also referred to as gastroenteritis, stomach flu is an inflammation in the lining of your toddler's digestive tract. It can result from viral infection caused by astrovirus, adenovirus, norovirus, which is common in school-age children, or rotavirus, which is the leading cause of severe stomach flu in children, according to the PubMed Health. Stomach flu also can be caused by bacterial infections including staphylococcus, salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter or shigella.
Symptoms
Your toddler can get stomach flu by eating contaminated food or water or sharing utensils with someone who is ill but not yet showing the symptoms. Symptoms of stomach flu can vary from mild to severe and typically include diarrhea, vomiting, pain and fever. Other symptoms may include chills, excessive sweating, lack of appetite and clammy skin. Viral gastroenteritis usually causes symptoms within four to 48 hours after exposure to the virus.
Dehydration
Many of the symptoms of stomach flu can lead to loss of fluids from your child's body. This can lead to dehydration, which is a serious health condition. Signs of dehydration include decreased urination, excessive fussiness, sunken eyes, dry or sticky mouth, wrinkled skin, crying without tears, extreme thirst and discolored hands and feet. Call your pediatrician or take your toddler to the emergency room if she is dehydrated, has bloody stool or has been vomiting for more than 48 hours.
Fluids
Give your toddler water, diluted juice or milk to help keep her hydrated. Avoid giving your child food or beverages that have a high-sugar content, such as flavored gelatin, sodas and juices. These can worsen stomach flu symptoms because your toddler's inflamed intestines cannot properly digest them, according to the BabyCenter website. If your child is vomiting frequently and cannot keep any fluids down, your child’s doctor may suggest oral electrolyte solutions, which are available over the counter. Electrolyte solutions help hydrate your toddler by replacing lost water, salts and minerals.
Treatment
The first line of treatment is to encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Small amounts every 30 to 60 minutes are recommended rather than large amounts less frequently. If the stomach flu is caused by bacteria, your child’s doctor most likely will prescribe antibiotics to treat the illness. If your child has a viral stomach flu, it cannot be treated with antibiotics, and rest and fluids are the only way to help your toddler recover. You may ease fever or the symptoms that are making your child uncomfortable with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. In severe cases of dehydration, your child may need to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous rehydration.
