Tons of Tummy Bugs Going Around ... What You Need To Know
Dr. Diane with tips on what to do if your child has a stomach virus
Believe it or not, this post is about "tummy bugs."
So much diarrhea and vomiting, y'all.
There are a TON of tummy bugs going around right now since kids are back in school. If you change your younger kiddo’s diaper, please wash your hands really well afterwards, and remind your kids to wash their hands after they use the bathroom - the microscopic fecal stuff is a big contagious culprit.
Tummy bugs sometimes mean vomiting. Sometimes diarrhea. Sometimes fever. And sometimes, all three.
Common viruses usually cause a few days of vomiting, and often diarrhea for over a week. After two weeks of diarrhea, we need to see your child in the office.
I tend to worry more about the kiddos who have high fevers, have blood in their stools, or who can’t drink enough water to keep urinating at least every 6-8 hours and stay hydrated.
Probiotics may help. Carby snacks like crackers, bananas, bread may help. Electrolyte drinks like pedialyte or 1/2 Gatorade mixed with 1/2 water help. Avoid super sugary drinks - they can make the diarrhea worse.
Remember too that when kids get bad colds, they swallow a lot of mucus and this can lead to loose, mucusy stools sometimes too.
Come in and see me if you’re worried, or give us a call. Hang in there.
Get to know Diane Arnaout, M.D.
Dr. Diane Arnaout joined the Cook Children's Willow Park practice in 2011. You can stay connected with Dr. Arnaout on her Instagram account and the Willow Park practice on Facebook. Dr. Arnaout was born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She attended college at Texas A&M University and medical school at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. She did her pediatric internship and residency at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and M.D. Anderson at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX where she served as a leader on the medical education committees. She is a board-certified pediatrician. Click to learn more.
