Signs and symptoms of stomach flu
The usual symptoms for stomach flu include watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever. In children, a stomach flu can cause dehydration very quickly so it’s important to be on the lookout for symptoms such as dry skin, dry mouth or being very thirsty. For babies, do look out for fewer and drier diapers, which could point to dehydration.
Stomach flu is highly contagious and in addition to spreading via contact with an infected person and contaminated food or water, it can also spread from not washing your hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper.
Another bacteria called Shigella can cause stomach flu as well. It’s often spread in schools and day care centres via contact with infected toys, bathroom fixtures, changing tables, diaper pails, changing the diaper of a child with a Shigella infection, then touching your mouth.
Self-care measures in kids and babies
There isn’t a fixed, medical treatment for stomach flu other than supportive measures. The most important thing is to replace lost fluids and salt especially in children. Help them rehydrate with oral rehydration solutions, which are available over the counter at pharmacies. Do note that plain water isn’t the best replacement in children with stomach flu so it’s best to stick to oral rehydration solutions which replace lost electrolytes.
Slowly transition your child back to a normal diet to help settle their little tummies. Introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods like rice, bananas and สนใจสมัคร? คลิกที่นี่เพื่อเริ่มต้น potatoes. Avoid dairy and sugary food as they can make diarrhoea worse. Ensure that your child gets lots of rest as being ill and dehydrated can definitely weaken and tire them out.
For babies, after a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea, let their stomach rest for 15 – 20 minutes before trying to give them small amounts of liquid. If you are breastfeeding your baby, allow them to nurse and if they’re bottle-fed, offer them a small amount of oral rehydration solution or milk formula. There’s no need to dilute the formula.
Make it a point to disinfect all hard surfaces if anyone at home has the stomach flu. This includes counters, faucets, doorknobs, and switches. Wash and disinfect all toys that your infected child comes in contact with to prevent reinfection or spreading it to another person in the house.
Bacterial stomach flu
Gastroenteritis can also be caused by a bacterial infection such as E. coli or Salmonella which are commonly spread via undercooked poultry, eggs or unpasteurised milk and raw vegetables or juices.
Always check to make sure that the chicken and eggs your child is about to consume is properly cooked through. For those who like runny eggs, choose pasteurised eggs. To protect against E. coli and salmonella, ensure that you wash your hands and utensils with hot soapy water before and after preparing food or eating. Make it a habit to disinfect kitchen surfaces especially if you’ve prepared raw chicken on it. Use separate storage compartments, knives and chopping boards for storage and preparation of raw meats.
Wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly especially those with firm surfaces with a vegetable brush while rinsing. After coming back from the grocery store, refrigerate or freeze your perishables as quickly as you can.