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How to Handle Diarrhea and Vomiting

Reviewed By: Brunilda Nazario,

SOURCES: Steven Parker, MDDirector, Behavioral/Development Pediatrics, Boston Medical CenterWebMD Blog, Healthy ChildrenWebMD Message Board Expert

© 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Narrator:

Diarrhea and vomiting: What's normal, what's not?

Dr. Steven Parker:

Well, diarrhea and vomiting are almost always a sign of stomach infection and intestinal virus usually. It starts with vomiting, the vomiting stops and it progresses to diarrhea. But of course, there are other causes and you have to be mindful that. Not all that pukes is a stomach virus. But what you need to look for in those cases is dehydration that so much water is lost either through the vomiting or through the diarrhea that the body becomes depleted of water. And then there's not enough volume in the blood, and the babies can get very sick and go into shock, and that's really your concern.

Dr. Steven Parker:

So the goal during a bout of vomiting and diarrhea, which is very distressing, is try to get in fluids to your baby. Now that can be a problem if every time you give something she vomits, you may be making things worse by trying to feed. So you have to go very slowly, sometimes giving the liquids just on a spoon, so not too much is taken at once and frequently.

Dr. Steven Parker (cont.):

Once the vomiting stops and there's diarrhea, it's easier to get fluids into the baby to keep up with the loss in the stools. The main concern is dehydration, and if you have any concern that your child may be dehydrated the mouth is dry, is she is listless, if the eyes look sunken, the skin has kind of a doughy appearance, that's a real worry and your baby may need IV fluids and even admission.

Dr. Steven Parker (cont.):

But most kids can make it through OK. They'll take in enough fluid. They won't become dehydrated. They'll keep peeing and you just have to keep up with the fluid loss by giving them the fluid of choice. Whether it's the electrolyte solutions that babies can take, or some crackers and juice and things like that. The bottom line is, what ever your baby takes best is usually is best. We usually recommend the electrolyte solutions just because those replace what is being lost in the bowel movements, but that's not essential. The essential piece is in the fluids, enough water getting in so she doesn't become dehydrated.

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