Your child has had a bout of diarrhoea and vomiting and they may be dehydrated when you are at home. They have had a thorough examination and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following information will help you care for your child.
Caring for a Child with Diarrhoea and Vomiting at Home
Most children with gastroenteritis can be safely managed at home.
The following symptoms may indicate dehydration:
- Becoming more unwell
- Becoming drowsy, floppy, irritable, or unusually lethargic
- Decreased number of wet nappies (less than 4 in 24 hrs)
- Pale or mottled skin
- Cold hands or feet
- Fast breathing
Contact your healthcare professional if any of the above symptoms occur.
If your child is not dehydrated:
- Continue usual feeds, including breast milk or other milk
- Encourage him/her to drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid fruit juice and fizzy drinks
If you feel your child is at risk of dehydration:
- Continue as above and offer Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) as extra drink
If you feel your child is dehydrated:
- Rehydration is usually possible with ORS
- Make up the ORS according to the instructions on the packaging
- Give 50 ml/kg of ORS over 4 hours
- Example, your 2 year old child weighs 12 kg; dosage = 12 kg x 50 ml = 600 ml to be given over 4 hours
- Give this amount in small sips every few minutes
- Continue breast feeding as well as giving the ORS
- Avoid solid food
Please bring your child back to the Emergency Department if the child refuses to drink ORS or continues to vomit.
After rehydration:
- Encourage him/her to drink plenty of their usual drinks, including breast milk if this was stopped
- Avoid fruit juices and fizzy drinks until the diarrhoea has stopped
- Gradually start his/her usual diet
- Give 5 ml/kg ORS after each episode of diarrhoea if you think they are at increased risk of dehydration
- Example, your 2 year old child weighs 12 kg; dosage = 12 kg x 5 ml = 60 ml
General advice
- Diarrhoea usually lasts 5 – 7 days and in most children it will stop within 2 weeks
- Vomiting usually lasts 1 or 2 days and in most children will stop within 3 days
Please bring your child back to the Emergency Department if the symptoms do not resolve within these timeframes.
Preventing the spread of gastroenteritis:
- Washing hands with soap (liquid if possible) in warm running water and careful drying is the most important factor in preventing the spread of diarrhoea
- Hands should be washed after going to the toilet or changing nappies (parents/carers) and before preparing, serving or eating food
- Towels used by the infected child should not be shared
- Children should not attend any school/nursery while they have diarrhoea or vomiting. They should not go back until 48 hrs after the last episode
- Children should not swim in swimming pools for 2 weeks after last episode of diarrhoea
What to do if you are worried:
- You can return to your nearest emergency department any time without an appointment
- You should be able to see your own GP or an ‘out of hours’ doctor
- You can get advice any time by calling the NHS 111 telephone service
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