What to do when your baby has gastro? When should you worry? Answers.
How does gastroenteritis manifest in babies?
In babies, as in children, a gastroenteritis manifests itself by diarrhea (at least three loose stools in a few hours) and sometimes vomiting. There gastro is usually caused by a viral infection, often the rotaviruswhich causes inflammation of the digestive system.
What to do if your baby has gastro?
A baby under two years old with gastro is at risk of dehydration. You should therefore consult a doctor if you have three liquid stools within a few hours.
While waiting for the consultation, if you are breastfeeding or breastfeeding your baby, continue to give him breastmilk as per usual. You can also give him something to drink. oral rehydration solution (ORS), in small sips every 5 or 10 minutes. It is a drink rich in salts and sugar which helps keep the child hydrated and compensates for losses of water and mineral salts.
If your baby is usually fed infant milkfavor the administration of ORS to begin with. Then after 4 to 6 hours maximum, reintroduce his usual milk, continuing to give ORS between bottles. ORS is given in doses of 30 to 90 ml per hour for a baby under 6 months, 90 to 125 ml for a child under two years old, and 125 to 250 ml beyond.
Additionally, continue to monitor your baby. You can weigh him from the start of the illness, to know his starting weight, then weigh him regularly thereafter to find out if he is dehydrated (in the event that he loses 5% of his weight or more). Also take your temperature regularly, count the number of liquid stools and vomits, but also the number of feedings or bottles consumed.
Be careful, do not give your child pure water, it will be poorly tolerated. Give him exclusively ORS or his usual milk. Do not use medications if they have not been specifically prescribed by the doctor for your child (antiemetics, anti-diarrheals, clay-based medications, intestinal antiseptics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). However, you can give him some paracetamol.
What are the signs of worsening gastro?
The risk of gastro in babies is that they become dehydrated, particularly in babies under 6 months old, or in vulnerable children.
Signs to watch out for are:
- a weightloss by more than 5%;
- an agitated state, or on the contrary apathetic ;
- a baby who sleeps a lot, is difficult to wake up, who moans;
- an unusual condition;
- little urine (less than 3 to 4 per 24 hours);
- A pale skin and dark circles around the eyes;
- a dry tongue and dry mouth;
- rapid breathing;
- a absence of tears during crying;
- vomiting that continues despite the administration of ORS.
If you notice these signs of dehydration, see a doctor immediately or call 15 to go to the emergency room. In addition, do not delay if your baby is no longer able to eat and drink, if vomiting and diarrhea continue, if your child has a fever of more than 38.5°C, or if his or her stools contain phlegm or blood.
What to do if your child has gastro?
For children over two years old, give them ORS and vegetable broths in case of gastro. You can also give him rice, rice cooking water, grated apples, applesauce, bananas, quince jelly or compote and toast. Avoid green vegetables and acidic fruits.
Once the illness has passed, you can gradually reintroduce your usual diet over three or four days. See a doctor if your child is still sick after two days of illness.
The pediatrician’s tip
Dr Célia Levavasseur is a maternity pediatrician. She gives a very effective tip for older children: “When your child vomits, when he has gastro, it’s a vicious circle, he no longer eats and therefore risks ending up in hypoglycemia, which also causes vomiting. The less he eats, the more he vomits, the less he eats, etc. You can give your child a sweet lollipop by soaking it in water beforehand because otherwise it may stick to the tongue if he or she is dehydrated. This allows you to provide sugar without the stomach triggering vomiting again.”
Sources:
Dr Célia Levavasseur pediatrician in maternity, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Health Insurance, Health Quebec
Read also :
⋙ Baby diarrhea: symptoms and signs that should prompt urgent consultation
⋙ Nose washing: how to give a baby a DRP?
⋙ Baby fever: how to reduce it and when to go to the emergency room? Advice from a pediatrician