Vomiting for 4/5 Days in a Row

Hi K.,

Take your toddler to your pediatrician. Have them do a stool culture and sensitivity test.

Get some Pedialite, gatorade, and ice popsicles. Get some over-the-counter immodium for children and give as directed.
Get her a sippy cup and keep it filled with fluids.

Get some multi vitamins for children and some probiotics. They have small vitamin C tablets at the health food store for infants and toddlers. Give as directed.

Hope this helps. D.

I am a grandmother and this is what I would do. Offer popcicles just to get something in your little girl. Also let her eat on ice chips. She should be able to have a few at a time and do ok with them. Jello would be better than toast and juice. Also take gingerale and go half and half with water. Let her sip on this too. These are things I use when my children were very sick. I hope she is feeling better soon.

Hi K.,
1st, I hope your little one is already starting to feel better. Some of these stomach bugs can be pretty persistent. You do have to be watchful of small children as they do get dehydrated much more quickly. If she has stopped vomitting & can keep down liquids, she's probably ok even though she's not eating much. Stick to the BRAT diet for awhile-bananas, rice, applesauce & toast. These are easily digested foods-advance her when she is ready. If she continues to vomit/have diarrhea, a call to your doctor is in order & don't be surprised if they send you back to the ER for fluids. My son used to get stomach bugs regularly and rectal anti-nausea medications (your dr can call in to the pharmacy) often really helped him. Many times, they made him really tired, which was a blessing as it allowed him & his tummy to rest. Don't worry about the not eating for 2/3 days-the liquids are the most important thing. During active vomiting, try 1 tsp per hour-if she keeps that down, then try another tsp, etc. Also, use Pedialyte/Pediapops, etc to replace her electrolytes. Ultimately, you are her mom & your intuition should be trusted-stomach bugs are hard to deal with, but calling the dr is never a bad idea if it will give you peace of mind. Take care & I hope she's back to her old self in no time!

Hi K.! Oh I know you are terrified! My son did basically the same way and my/his pediatrician said to make sure he got fluids (water, ice, popsicle) and don't worry about his not eating. After several days of maybe just a few licks on ice or popsicle (just enough to keep him hydrated), he "perked up" and did well.

I hope and pray your daughter will do the same. Just don't worry about the food ... that will come when her system is back to normal ...but do everything you can to encourage her to get something fluid in .... ice and remember the popsicle. Also, if she perks up, but still has trouble eating, give her some "regular Coca Cola" ... the traditional Coke. Believe it or not, it works!! (That also came from our pediatrician!!)

May God Bless you and your daughter (and the rest of your family). I pray she is soon MUCH better.

Keep Smiling!

K.,
I don't think you are worrying too much at all. Please, take her to her pediatrition as soon as possible. Symptoms like these should not go on for more the 2-3 days. Keep trying to give her fluids in small quantities--like one oz. every 20 minutes (pedilyte would be good alternate with water). If your pediatrition minimizes this, GO TO A DIFFERENT DOCTOR!
Trust your instincts, you are seeing all this happen so, make a time line of all of her symptoms and the frequency of the vomiting and diarrhea. Also note the appearance of the diarrhea and vomit. Another thing to note is if she is having any abdominal pain.
Most importantly, don't be intimidated by any of the doctors. Let them know honestly, how very concerned you are--you are her mother and you know more then they do about your little girl, they are trained to listen and the rely on you to give them all the information--you are her best and only advocate for her wellbeing. I've been there in both roles (as a mother and as a nurse), you can't remember everything so write it all down and give it to them.
Getting your daughter hydrated (in any way possible) will give her strength to not only fight off a virus (if that's what she has) it may help give her enough energy to tell you and the doctor more about how she's feeling (pain etc.) Dehydration causes changes in mental state so she may not be able to tell you that she's having abdominal pain or any other symptom.
Good luck,
From an RN

I've now read some of the responses and now feel I need to give you some don'ts"
DO NOT GIVE GATERAIDE--it's meant for full grown adults not 3 year old girls!
DO NOT GIVE IMMODIUM-- this is by far the worst thing you could do if she has a virus. You need a diagnosis from a competent physician before you should EVER do this for any Child.

I'd get a second opinion. If she's getting weaker and hasn't eaten in 2 or three days... My daughter swallowed a coin and the ER did an xray and said she should pass it in 24 hours. 48 hours after that, she hadn't . Pediatrician looked at x-rays, the same ones, and said she needed a laxative. Did the job - 3 days later.

Second opinion! Take her to her pediatrician if you can get an appointment pretty quick.

-S.

Hey, I can relate...a lot! My now 3 1/2 year old daughter was my first and the healthiest child EVER. Never had an earache, never vomitted, no viruses except for the occassional sniffles, no strep, nothing. Then, one night, she came down with a high fever and vomitted a few times. She watched a couple movies, was super lathargic, but got better. This kind of thing proceeded to happen once every couple of months with minor differences each time. One time she would vommit one time a night at the same time each night for like 5 nights in a row. She was super weak and would never eat during an episode. She hates pedialyte, gatorade, all that stuff. I learned to listen to her. She knew her body and always came out the other side ok. Whenever I forced something, it would come back up. Popcycles worked the best when she was at her worst. He sluggishness, weakness, all that worried me SO much and her doctor ran SO MANY tests. They were ran during an episode and not. Leukemia was my worst nightmare but very possible. They found a blood infection one of the times but couldn't name it. Anyway, it gets better. Everything turned out OK and no cancer. No ANYTHING super serious. This is just the way her body fights off any infections, viruses, whatever. Just recently she had a slight fever, didn't eat for 2 days except popcycles and watered down white grape juice, and then was much better. She vomitted the first morning one time and I knew it was starting. I just listened to her, let her relax during the day, she actually took naps which she gave up when she turned three, and now she is fine again. I have to trust that this is just her bodies way of doing things. I hope your daughter is better and I hope she starts eating soon. My daughter has always been a rail (just now 30 lbs. at 3 1/2) so I was always during an episode that she would wither away, but realistically, she is FINE! I wouldn't do apple juice b/c that can be hard to digest, white grape is supposed to be easiest, and add some H20. Plus, popcycles for some reason never come back up with my daughter. I hope this can help, and yes, they can live soley off popcycles for a few days! I can prove it! Best of luck to you!

Take your daughter back to the doctor today. Sounds like she is definitely dehydrated and in need to fluids. If she can't keep anything down they will give her IV fluids. Good luck.

K.- I would worry less about the food and more about getting some liquids in her. Try small amounts of pedialyte (like 1 or 2oz) and have her sip it. If she doesn't like the taste you can mix it with gatorade.Just take it slow and give a few ounces every couple of hours and see how she does. Right now liquids are the best thing for her. She probaly hasn't had any energy due to being dehydrated! Hope she feels better soon!

I would take her to the pediatrician. It could be a stomach virus, but she should be able to hold something down. After a stomach virus, I see if they can hold down something easy like jello (not red b/c you want to make sure if it's vomited up you can tell if there's blood in the vomit or not). If she can hold down a jello, then try apple sauce, then I give them a peanut butter sandwich. Rice is also something to try.

try 5ml of pedialyte every 10-15 minutes.....IF she keeps it down give her more....you have to slowly build her stomach up to accepting fluids again....it is SO important to keep her hydrated...BUT if she takes in a lot she will likely throw it up so go very slowly. My daughter had this about a month ago....its the only way we could get her started again. AND when she does want to start eating...BRAT diet. Banana, Rice, Apple, Toast.

good luck!

i would take her to the pediatrician today if possible...

see if she'll take any pedialyte. they also have pedialyte popsicles i believe... you're right, she definitely needs something!

good luck!

K.--Please update us all on your daughter once you know more. I hope this is all a moot point by now, but did the ER (or, by now, your pediatrician if you've seen one)test specifically for things like E.coli or salmonella? Both can be dangerous for young children. Those tests were done on my daughter when she vomited for just one day--as long as your daugthter's been vomiting, with diarrhea as well, someone should have included those in the tests on her. Maybe the hospital did but didn't bother to tell you if the results were negative?

I do remember stomach viruses and they can tend to last for what seems an eternity. But, five days of vomiting is unnerving. Does your daughter have a personal pediatrician? If so, contact the doctor's office immediately for a visit. Meanwhile, think about what your daughter did or ate before this came on? Was she around anyone sick? Was she in a place that was unclean? Did she eat something new? Did she have access to any meds? Was she taking any meds? Did she visit somewhere on a fieldtrip? Hopefully, the ER staff asked you all of these questions to rule out food poisoning or allergic reaction to something. If they did and performed tests and x-rays, it probably is a stomach virus, which can be pretty ugly. If she's a little dehydrated, force fluids. Try fillng a small bulb syringe or medicine dropper of water and feed them to her in small doses, every 15 minutes. Give her stomach time to digest it. Then, as she gets stronger, mix in a little chicken broth with the water in the bulb syringe. Add Gatorade. If she can't tolerate foods, that's probably ok. A few days on fluids shouldn't be a problem. I think we humans are supposed to be able to go days with no food, but we need water and fluids. Try adding jello and popsicles. If she handles that ok, then add dry toast and bananas. If she handles that, then add rice and applesauce(if it doesn't usually send her to the bathroom). Next, maybe macaroni. All of these foods are constipating, so that should give her some relief from the diahrrea and make the stools a little more solid. She should get stronger and better within a week's time. But, if she's still looking weak and won't tolerate even fluids after all of the home remedies, I'd get her into Children's Hospital. Meanwhile, again, I'd call her doctor immediately to get them on notice that she's really ill. Three days with vomiting and diahrrea tends not to disturb doctors, but makes moms crazy. I can imagine how you're feeling after 5 days of this. If she does not have a fever and is taking fluids, then she will probably have to let whatever is in her system pass through.

There has been a really horrible virus going around, a friend at work's youngest had the same thing, with trips to the ER. Unfortunately, there's nothing to do for a virus except let the immune system do its job and support the child. Just keep in touch with your daughter's pediatrician and don't hesitate to take her to the ER if it continues. Good luck, I hope she fights it off soon.

Hi K.,

I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is not feeling well. My daughter (almost 2yrs.) just went through the same thing. She too was vomiting and not eating at all. It all started so suddenly. I went to my pediatrician and she encouraged fluids just like the other responders suggested. My daughter stopped having bowel movements during this time, but did urinate. My doctor said that even though she is vomiting up any food she takes in that as long as she is drinking some sort of liquids (i.e. water,juice, pedialyte, etc.). My doctor advised that she NOT drink milk or any milk based products during this time. Also, my doctor told me that even as she stops vomiting and seems to be getting better that she still may not eat as expected. My doctor of course said to offer food, but not to be surprised if she doesn't eat. It took my daughter over a week after she stopped vomiting to begin to eat a decent amount of food. Fluids, fluids, fluids! I hope that you begin to see a shift soon!

It sounds like a virus to me also, but if the diarrhea stops, and she still vomits everything after 5 days, it could be possible she swallowed something that is stuck in her stomach, but can't be thrown up. Might want to ask her if she's had "anything" in her mouth besides food. Just a thought. Hope she's already better!

Good Morning. I hope your daughter is feeling better. We just had this virulent stomach bug. Our three children, 9, 5 and 3 spent an entire week feeling just horrible with vomiting the entire time. Use Pedialyte as this will keep your daughter hydrated. We stuck with this and other clear fluids and once the kids started to feel better, we went to the BRAT diet. (banana's, rice, applesauce and toast) Your daughter should start to feel better soon. I wish I could tell you not to worry, but we all worry about our children. Just trust your instincts and keep doing what you are doing. This particular stomach bug really can last a week! Keep your chin up!

Hi K.: Anyone can go without for quite a long time, the concern is the dehydration. Try jello, ice pops, they have some at Walgreens that has electrolytes in them, if she has a virus, it will work its way out. Just keep giving her something to drink, sip or suck on, there is the brat diet which is bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, I work in a health setting and that is the advice we give, just water isn't really good, and anything caffinated can both her too, so no soda, gatorade, propel, juices, are good that sort of thing. Hope it helps. L.

My daughter had something that sounds similar when she was about 1 1/2. They told me it was Rotovirus and it can last for up to a week. I took her to the pediatrian each day for several days certain they had to be able to do something for her and each time they told me to let it run its course and to make sure she stayed hydrated. I don't think it is a big deal if they do not get food in but you have to keep fluid in. Her doctor sugggested a table spoon every 15 mins to make sure it stayed down. It might need to be more since your child is older. If your child cannot keep the fluid down take the child to the pediatrian and they can have the child admitted to the hopsital for an iv.

Hope you little one gets better soon!

Hi -- I would suggest calling your pediatrician if she's not better by now. Throwing up and diarrhea will dehydrate her pretty fast. Have you tried Pedialyte freezer pops? Sometimes those stay down better than liquids or regular food. Hope she feels better soon.

Contact your regular doctor, let them know. If it has been 4/5 days for a 3 year old, and the child shows signs of dehydration, most hospital would have kept the child. Some viruses does last a week, but you can not err on the side of caution. Did the ER do blood work to rule out anything else, tick season is upon us. If she is getting weaker, I stronger suggest contacting your doctor, demand that additional testing be done. In the meantime give your daughter some pedialyte, popicles soemthing to start her back on the road from dehydration. I know you went to the ER yesterday, demand an appointment today.
The ER misdiagnosed my son, although they were aware of his chronic medical illness; they did chest x-ray and nothing, so they said. He was in excruiating pain. We went to the local hospital ER first, he was still in pain for a week, I went back; they still only treated him with pain medication. That evening I took him to another hospital 40minutes away, they admitted him on arrival. Three days later the doctor started talk of putting him on a ventilator, blood count had dropped drastically. Three days, so something was wrong when I went to the first hospital. My son almost died. By me telling you this, I'm just saying if you feel something is wrong, don't accept what the ER says as fact. Do what you have to to guarantee the safety and health of your child. Over the years, the ER has misdiagnosed my son on numerous occasions. Even if you think your child needs I.V. fluids, which would definitely help her recover, demand it. You see your child everyday use your best judgment if you are uneasy about her condition.

Whenever my daughter gets sick she doesn't eat for days. I wouldn't worry about the eating, her body just isn't ready. But please be sure to push fluids. This is tough, but she needs to drink. We used to insist on 3 sips every 10 minutes. Sometimes I would have to tell my daughter if you don't drink you will be going to the hospital. It usually does the trick. When she is ready to eat, she'll let you know. We bent the rules on junk food around this time, if she wanted bites of a cookie then so be it. And as for the lack of energy, I know when I am sick I like to just lay on the sofa (of course moms don't have that luxery). Let her lay on the sofa as much as she wants until she is feeling better. If she doesn't feel better soon then call your ped.

I've recently had a similiar experience to what you are going through. I also ate an apple and eggs for breakfast and immediately vomited. My stomach is very sensitive. After vomiting, I slept for hours. I went to the ER and was told the same thing, that it was a stomach virus. Afterward, I slept again and felt very weak. Don't be too worried. Diarrhea is usually a symptom that comes with stomach viruses because your body is trying to rid itself of the bad stuff that was digested. After eating saltine crackers and soup broth I regained my strength. Also, Pedialyte or watered down Gatorade helped to keep me from dehydrating.

Please respond please ! My little one is 4 she is doing this exact thing except it’s been 5 days already she’s turning into skin and bones she won’t eat she won’t drink medicine or anything everything comes back up she has diahreah we took her to the hospital 2/3 times already they keep saying she’s dehydrated and keep liquids in we’ve tried Pedialyte The popsicle versions of them we tried Gatorade, she still isn’t better what did you do to make your girl better.

Vomiting and diarreah for this long is definitely a virus. I dont think you're worrying too much. You do need to go back to the doctor ASAP. I wont give you a list of possible things it could be (that would just cause needless anxiety). But I will say that it could be something serious.

In the meantime you can make your own ORT (oral rehydration therapy) solution:

- one level teaspoon of salt
- eight level teaspoons of sugar
- one liter of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled
- 5 cupfuls

Also here are the signs to watch for dehydration:

- increased thirst

- sunken eyes

- a dry mouth and tongue

- decreased urine output

- 3 to 9 percent weight loss

- normal to increased heart rate and pulses, normal to fast

- breathing, and cool fingers/toes

- capillary refill greater than 2 seconds (briefly press on your child's nail bed so that it blanches or turns white, and see how long it takes to return to normal)

- recoil on skin turgor test in less than 2 seconds (gently pinch your child's skin on their abdomen, hold it for a few seconds and then let it go to see how long it takes to return to the normal position)

Good luck. I hope she feels better soon.

J.

Our daughter (2 1/2) had this for 14 days! (stomach virus) her sister had it for 10 days (9 mons)

IF she doesn't have a fever, it is likely a stomach virus, but after 7 days of it, you might want to get some cultures to see if something is brewing...

Does she have a fever with this virus? If so, she may be acting weak because of the fever. But really as long as she's drinking, you shouldn't worry about the not eating part. Even 1-2 ounces every hour or so will keep her hydrated, give small amounts like 1 oz. ever 30minutes so she can keep it down. Pedialyte, water mixed with a little juice and popsicles work best. If she throws up, let her stomach rest for at least 30-45 minutes then try a few sips. Until she is keeping clears down for 8 hours, don't try any foods. Then keep it bland. If she has a fever, give tylenol or motrin to help with that. Having a fever can make her not feel like doing anything, especially drinking. Hope this helps and she gets better soon!

Definately call you pediatrician immediately. Mine would have already had given you a suppositor to stop the vomitting and/or the child hospitalized with an iv.

I woul dnot be so concerend about food - but you definitely want to encourage fluids. I would also give her something to replenish electrolytes - pedialyte, gatorade - at this point anything she will drink.

Good luck! :o)

My Grandson went through the same thing, he was diagnosed with a virus. It didn't seem to go away after 3 weeks and is now being tested for Crones. I hope your daughter only has a virus.

My 16month old just went through this. It's definitely a virus, and just like with any other virus, you have to let it run it's course. Her body is doing just what it needs to do to get better.

The foods my daughter found comforting was broth (veggie/chicken), applesauce, reconstituted raisins, and rice crackers. I also made sure she got probiotics in her sippy cup with some dilute juice. The friendly bacteria is even more necessary at this time. It drove me crazy, but there's really nothing I could do to speed up the process.

This will pass and even when she's well enough to eat it will take a few days for her digestive system to get back to normal.

~L.

Sounds like she probably needs fluids, and if she can't keep anything down they would have to be given through an IV. Is she complaining with any other symptoms? Did they give her any phenagren to help her keep things down? If you aren't satisfied I would definitely carry her back if she doesn't seem to be improving or maybe take her somewhere else. Good luck. Keep us posted.

K.,

Both of my children had that virus a week ago it lasted one whole week, when it was almost over I got a good tip that stops the runs, it's to give the child warm ginger ale, so basically don't refrigerate it.
Makes sure to keep her drinking water and obviously don't give her milk. I just kept dry foods available for them when they felt like eating.
I'm glad it's over with, good luck.

You need to get her to the pediatrician now. Not the ER - unless she is acutely dehydrated and they give her an IV, they'll just try to get you back out of there as quickly as possible. The ER's job is to triage people and move them to where they get long-term treatment, so they'll try to get you out fast. The pediatrician is the one to help.

Good luck, poor little thing. I hope she gets better soon.

Hi K., I have a little girl this happened to (age 4) and I was scared to death as well. Just keep pushing those fluids, you might even see if she would drink a little fruit smoothie. It's very scary when they seem so helpless..then you feel helpless. If she's drinking water, little sips at a time, she should be fine. It lasted about 5 days for my little girl, and at the time she was 3. On the couch ALL DAY, sleeping forever, not eating, very scary. Try to breathe and relax. And no... you're not worrying to much, it means you're a good mama!!

Hi K.. I would definately call her pediatrician to make her aware of what has happened. In the meantime, try giving her a little bit of just chicken broth. The protein will help to give her some strength & keep her hydrated. Her pediatrician may want to see her or call in a prescription. It's very important to try to keep her from dehydrating.
Good luck & God Bless.
K.

This is not alright! Go back to the Dr. now! But this time go with a list of symptoms you have noticed. I reccommend that you write down anything that is out of the ordinary no matter how small it may seem. The most important thing to rememember is that you are your child's only advocate. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to question what the medical professionals are doing. Most of them out there are very good at their jobs, but you are the only one who can speak for her right now.

try pushing fluids when you can and dont worry about the food. when my kids are sick i figure why give them something to throw up. unless they ask for food i wouldnt bother. she might lose a pound or so, but she can regain it quickly. try to keep your house really clean and get her some fresh air. hopefully that will help get rid of this bug and its germs. also if someone else in your family gets sick, isolate them. you do not want your daughter to get re infected again. i hope she feels better soon. i know its no fun to be so sick.

she could have rotavirus. did they check for that at the ER? it is HIGHLY contagious and very serious. My on got it hen he was only 9 months old & he was hospitalized for 5.5 days. if she is not keeping anything down, has diarrhea & is lethargic/sleepy then ask you Primary Care Physician to check her out & see if it is rotavirus.