Really Bad Stomach Bug

When children start teething, their mouths produce larger amounts of saliva to help keep their gums from getting dry and irritated since they tend to rub them or chew on things that will help the gum tissue gently break for the new teeth to come. Because of this excess saliva, you may notice looser stools. Also, since children tend to put anything in their mouths at this time, they are more likely to pick up more viral or bacterial infections.
Hold her and comfort her as much as you possibly can. This is a very difficult and uncomfortable time for most children.
I lucked out that neither of my children were to irritated, but I did have the problem with the looser stools. I also remember that although they never had diaper rash, they sometimes did cry or complain as they were having a bowel movement. My pediatrician said that sometimes the saliva might be too acidic, thus causing the discomfort.

It could be teethig but no matter what, it is adamant that she take in fluids.

Our eldest started this at 13 months snd ended up in the hospital with dehydration. Very scary, on IVs for four days, forced ounces of ginger ale. My inexperience. He was so sick. He did have fever.

Our second child had a bout at 15 months and the doctor said stop milk, give him nothing but 7-UP or Ginger Ale. He was soon over the episode.

Our six month old who was nursing. Same doc as with our second child, gave the same advice again. I was devastated because I was not ready to stop nursing. I pumped for a couple of days until she got over it.

All three are grown now with children of there own.

I hope you see this very soon so that your child will not become dehydrated. It can happen so quickly with infants.

Mary,
Every tooth my baby has cut has made him throw up, & it would come out like a gusher! I too took him to the Doctor twice in a 2 week period & they couldn't find anything but I found out on my own it was his teeth. My other children didn't do that cutting teeth but I called my niece & she told me her baby did the same thing with his teething. Its just harder on some babies than others.

Yes the teeth can be a big part of the problem, see if something cool for her to chew on helps. Hope things get better for both of you soon.

Hello M.: I have 3 kids and I always did the brat diet==bread, rice, applesauce and toast. I don't know where you are with her eating process, but this always seemed to help in our household. Maybe a little watered down sprite of 7up may help as well. Hope this helps.
I guess cutting teeth may not be helping things either-- my kids are 5 now- triplets, yes, everything wasw times 3, 3 teething, crying and so on. M y memory of those days is shady at best.
K. n.

There i ssomething going around!!! My 21 month old got it and 36 hours later I got it too!!! It's aweful!! She vomited/heaved nonstop from 7 am to about 12 in the afternoon. The pediatrician gave her some dissolvable Zofran and it did seem to help. She really didn't want to eat for almost 2 days. I kept offering her everything anyway. WIth your daughter, because she is so young I would be concerned she'd get dehydrated. It's a really good sign she wants to breastfeed. I'd offer it to her about every 2 hours. The virus does knock you out and my baby slept alot too. The pedi should give you guidelines as to how many wet diapers in a time frame to let you know if she's hydrated enough. Good luck and keep your fingers crossed you don't get it too! It's a really nasty bug!
B.

Hi M.,
All 3 of my kids had the nasty stomach bug at Christmas. It started out with persistent vomiting for the first few days (along with diarrhea) and then they would vomit once or twice a day after that. The V&D went on for 11 days! I thought I was going to pull my hair out. The doc reassured me that sometimes the nastier viruses can last up to 2 weeks. Just keep offering the fluids. I ended up having to give my baby (6 mos at the time) pedialyte via a syringe because he would not take it out of a bottle. You want to make sure she is drinking at least 24 ounces of something every day. I would not offer any milk products or food at this time. Just go with clear fluids for now until she can keep things down for at least 24 hours. Also, try different flavors of pedialyte and try it at different temps. They also make pedialyte icicle pops. I urge the pedialyte over the water due to the loss of electrolytes from vomiting. An electrolyte imbalance can create other problems and can lead to severe fatigue. I dont believe that this is due to her teething. Good luck and hang in there!
A.

This would be good to get some more fluids in her and to help soothe her teething, get a mesh feeder if you don't already have one and put an ice cube in it (make sure you rinse the ice cube first so it does not stick to her lips) my daughter loves this, they can suck the water out and just have it in the mouths for cold comfort. Hope she gets better soon.

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. It is miserable to watch you little one suffer through a stomach bug. We have had more than our fair share of stomach viruses in our house so I have learned a lot. First of all, don't let her drink as much as she wants because you fear dehydration (although, you should fear dehydration!! It's serious). But, if you don't introduce the fluids VERY slowly, her digestive system will not have time to settle and she will continue with the vomitting. Try a different flavor of Pedialyte or the pops. My son isn't a big fan either. Start with 1 tsp of fluid in a medicine syringe. After she has held that down for 20 minutes, give her another tsp. After she has held that down for 15 minutes, give her another tsp. After 10 minutes, another tsp then do another 10 minutes and then go down to 5. If she throws up, you'll need to start over. If you feel like she's become too dehydrated, just take her to the ER for fluids. You can also call and urgent care clinic to see if they do fluids. I think many of them do. Do not feed her solids until this is under control. Even after she does stop vommitting, feed her bland foods for at least 2 days (even if she seems to be doing great). Nothing high in fiber or fat (no beans, whole wheat, oatmeal, butter, etc). Stick with rice, crackers, white bread, bananas, apple sauce etc. Things that move slowly through the digestive track. My son recently went through this. He is 4 so a different situation. I would think he was getting better (wouldn't have thrown up for 24 hours and all of a sudden it would happen again after eating something he shouldn't have). I knew better but he hadn't eaten in days and I just wanted him to eat what he felt like eating. Bad move...and I knew better!! Ugh. I finally gave him children's Malox and it was a like a wonder drug. His little system was so out of whack, it just needed help setteling. Although, you'd need to talk to your pedi office to see if an 11 month old can have anything along these lines. There is always the chance she has Rotavirus too. When my girlfriend's son had it, it seemed as is he was recovering and then would start throwing up again. It came and went for a week!!! Just watch the dehydration. I'm so sorry, M.. I really hope she starts to recover today!!!

Try pedialyte freezer pops and lollipops.

We've had a couple of bouts of this in the past two years. It has taken up to 10 days for me to feel like she was back up to par, though the vomiting and/or diarrhea only lasted a few days.

Breastmilk will keep her nourished and hydrated so give her all she wants. My pediatrician advised me to offer the breast more often for a shorter period of time--more foremilk and less of the creamy hindmilk--it seemed to help her keep it down better. I gave her solids when she asked for it.

My daughter never would take pedialyte and there is really no reason if she will take breastmilk.

Good luck. She will feel better soon--rest and love is what she needs. It could be related to teething--you will get mixed opinions about whether or not teething depresses the immune system and leaves your child susceptible to other problems.

A friend of mine had a myriad of things happen to her almost 2 yr old all at the same time (cutting molar, stomach virus, urinary tract infection and got topped off with pertussis.) So, don't discount that she could have a few things going on. It was a rough few weeks for her. I won't scare you with her details, but trust your instincts an stay on the doctors as much as you need. I think they are slow to react b/c so many things do work themselves out. Her daughter is fine now, just rough on the whole family to juggle it all. Let your friends/family know if you need meals or someone to run to the grocery store etc... Its a rough thing not being able to make it all better for our kids! Best wishes...

My daughter was about the same age when she got a bad stomach virus. She didn't like pedialyte either. I finally found pedialyte freezer pops. She loved them. She would eat them if I cut them up and put them in her high chair or she like to eat them like a popsicle out of the package. Good luck.

It may be "Fifth Disease" Parvo 19- Does she have red cheeks? Biggest issue is possible anemia and dehydration- Look at her hands and press on the vein. Does it immediately pop up? If not- take her to ER- she needs fluids. Fifths disease will pass- but it can be very bad- my son ended up in the hospital and having to be tranfused because the PA could n;t really tell hopw sick he was- use your own judgement! but yes- you will have a happy baby again- 'till they're about fifteen!

I would say since she hasn't vomited again today, then, she is probably starting to get over it. Keep offering the breastmilk, it is the best for her right now.