When school starts, especially during the rainy season, our little ones often get sick, don't they? School is a place where a lot of germs accumulate. When children play together, talk, and are close to each other, these germs easily spread. So it's no wonder that illnesses like colds, flu, and stomach aches are common. While washing your hands well can help control this to a great extent, sometimes you can't stop kids from getting sick. So what do you do when your child comes home from school feeling hot and pale? Don't panic. Let's be aware of this.
What to do when you get stomach bugs?
This stomach bug is one of the most difficult illnesses a child can get. Although some people call it "stomach flu," it is actually not related to the virus that causes the common cold. It is caused by a different type of virus.
Okay, so let's see what we should do when our child has a stomach ache.
1. Give plenty of fluids to drink
If a child is vomiting and has diarrhea, they are losing a lot of water from their body. This is called dehydration. It is very important to prevent this. Therefore, it is essential to give the child fluids to drink.
But here's what you should do. Wait 30 to 60 minutes after your child vomits. Then, give them just a little bit of liquid to drink. If they swallow it, give them more. If you give them too much liquid at once, they may vomit again. That's why it's important to give them small amounts.
The best way is to give him an ice cube. You can't eat an ice cube quickly. So the liquid goes into his body gradually. This method is very good because a small child will try to swallow the water bottle all at once. Drinking the liquid little by little with a spoon is also a good method.
What are the best things to give your child to drink? When you first start, it is best to give them an oral rehydration solution, such as Jeevani, which you can buy at the pharmacy. Acidic drinks like orange juice are not good when they are vomiting. But after the vomiting stops, there is nothing wrong with giving your child any liquid they like, even milk . Many parents think that milk is not digested when they have an upset stomach. This is a misconception. Milk is a nutritious food that is rich in protein, fat, and calories.
2. The food starts again.
After the child has been vomiting for about six hours, try offering a small amount of food. If he doesn't want to eat, don't force him. Try again after a while.
When you first start, start with bland foods like porridge, bread, and rice. But if possible, it's best to introduce your baby to a regular diet within 24 hours. Remember, keep the amount you feed small . Most of the time, stomach upset is not caused by the type of food, but by eating too much at once.
Fat in food can actually help with constipation. Since fat takes longer to digest, it can slow down the bowels. If you feed your cat only fat-free food for a few days, it can actually make the stomach upset worse.
3. Think carefully before giving medication.
Some over-the-counter medications for stomach upset and diarrhea are approved for children. For example, loperamide is approved for children over 6 years of age, and bismuth subsalicylate is approved for children over 12 years of age.
But here's something very important . This medicine called `bismuth subsalicylate` contains ingredients similar to aspirin. Therefore, giving these to children with symptoms like chickenpox or flu carries a risk of developing a very dangerous, but uncommon condition called `Reye's syndrome`.
Therefore, be sure to talk to your doctor before giving this type of medicine to a child of any age. Because if the cause of your child's stomachache is a bacterial infection, giving a medicine that stops the bowels from emptying will only cause the bacteria to get stuck inside the body and make the illness worse. If your child has symptoms like fever or blood in the stool, do not give this medicine at all. See a doctor immediately.
Let's face the cold and flu
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a common cold and a debilitating flu. But simply put, a flu is a more serious illness. A cold is a bit annoying, but a fever can make a child bedridden. Let's see what we can do at this time.
- Fluids: While dehydration is not a major concern, it is important to give fluids. Fluids help loosen mucus, making it less sticky and easier to pass. Giving a warm liquid like chicken soup can help your child feel better. Some parents try to give their child fluids when they are sick. It is not necessary for colds and flu. Give your child whatever they want to drink. As mentioned earlier, the myth that drinking milk increases mucus is also a misconception.
- Food: "Parents should completely forget about worrying about food when their child has a cold." Yes, the child will not eat properly for a few days and will lose some weight. But once the illness is over, that weight will quickly return. So give the child whatever he wants to eat, in as much as he can eat.
- To reduce pain and fever: Children can take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce body aches and fever. But parents often worry too much about fever. Pay more attention to your child's behavior than the number on the fever thermometer. If your child has a fever but is happily running around and playing, you don't need to give them medicine.
- Cold medicines: Do not give any over-the-counter cough or cold medicines to children under 4 years of age . Even for older children, it is safest to ask a doctor for advice. These medicines carry some risks, and there is little evidence that they provide significant relief. Never give a child aspirin for a fever without the advice of a doctor.
- Humidity: Dry air can make cold symptoms worse. It's a good idea to run a humidifier in your child's room. Using a nasal saline spray can also help.
When should you see a doctor?
Most colds, flu, and stomach upsets will go away on their own in a few days. However, if there are certain symptoms, it is essential to take your child to a doctor. Let's look at these symptoms clearly in a table.
| Symptoms to watch out for | Description and risk level |
|---|---|
| Age and fever |
|
| Persistent fever | Fever lasting more than 24 hours. |
| Difficulty breathing | If the child seems to be having difficulty breathing or is breathing rapidly. |
| Behavioral changes | If the child is excessively sleepy, lethargic, or acting differently than usual. |
| Symptoms of dehydration | Not urinating for 8 hours or more, no tears when crying, dry mouth and lips. |
| Persistent vomiting | Continuous vomiting for more than 8 hours. |
| Dangerous features | Blood in vomit or stool, green vomit. These are situations where you should immediately go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). |
"I believe a lot in the suspicion that parents have, that is, the 'parental radar'. If you feel like 'something is wrong' with your child, take them to a doctor without thinking about anything else."
What else can we do?
After reading this, you may be thinking, "Oh, isn't there anything else I can do for my child?" The truth is, there is nothing more heartbreaking for a parent than watching a sick child. At that moment, we feel like doing anything we can to help our child get better.
But the truth is, there's not much we can do. We can only help the child's immune system fight the virus and win.
Even if you can't get over the illness right away, you can use this time to bond with your child. Read a book to them. Watch a movie together. Be close to them. Children will get many of these viral infections in their lifetime. What you're helping them with is teaching them how to cope with them when they're sick.
Other than that, be patient. Treat your child with love. Comfort him. "Let the amazing ability of the human body do its thing."
Take-Home Message
- Don't worry if your child gets sick at school. This is very common.
- If there is vomiting and diarrhea, make it a priority to prevent dehydration. Give fluids slowly, in small amounts.
- Do not force food. Once the vomiting stops, start with bland foods and gradually introduce them to regular foods.
- Do not give children over-the-counter medications, especially antidiarrheals or cough/cold medications, without a doctor's advice. Always consult your doctor.
- Pay more attention to your child's behavior than the fever number. If your child is happy, there is no need to give them medicine for the fever.
- Be aware of dangerous symptoms such as difficulty breathing, excessive sleepiness, and persistent fever. If in doubt, seek medical advice immediately.
- Sometimes the best medicine is your love, care, and patience.
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