My 13 month old has never been sick before so this is new to me. She started throwing up at 430 today and continued to every 30 minutes. She hasn't done it again in 3.5 hours but refuses to drink the pedialyte. All she wants to do is sleep. Should I be worried about that or can I just let her sleep?
She hasn't wet her diaper since I bathed her at 730/8ish. Thats why I'm a little concerned. She was moving around until 9/930ish, just not with as much enthusiasm as she usually does.
That pedialyte stuff is nasty tasting. I would try to offer water, or chicken broth or something else. What does she like to drink? At this point anything she'll drink is good. Offer it in very small amounts. Too much too fast can trigger the whole thing again. Offer it in a special cup.
Hi SoloMomma,
If she's not running a fever, she could have a simple stomach virus (some don't elevate temperature much or at all), or she could have eaten something that's given her a round of food poisoning. It's good that the vomiting has stopped, but you need to try to rehydrate her. I'm a little concerned about the lethargy. It could just be an effect of the dehydration, but it could also be an indication of encephalitis or meningitis. Try to wake her up and see if you can get her to a full state of wakefulness, even if it means she's crying. Check to make sure that she doesn't have a stiff neck, and also watch for a petichial rash (small red/purple rash, usually on the arms or legs, but could also appear at the base of the neck along the spine. If you see any of these signs, head to the ER immediately.
If she can be roused but still won't urinate, you need to get her rehydrated. Do NOT give her straight water. She needs an electrolyte solution to restore proper chemical balance. Chicken broth is better, but it still doesn't contain the right composition of electrolytes that need to be replaced. If she won't take the pedialyte you can try the World Health Organization (WHO) oral rehydration solution:
1/2 tsp table salt (NaCl)
1/2 tsp salt substitute (KCl)
1/2 tsp baking soda (NaHCO3)
2 Tbsp sugar
1 liter chilled water.
Morton's makes a salt substitute that's 50% NaCl and 50% KCl. If you get this, use 1 tsp of it instead of the 1/2 tsp each of table salt and salt substitute.
Try to get her to take 1 - 2 Tbsp of this every 10 - 15 minutes. I had a pretty bad bout of gastroenteritis last week and lost over 1 lb of fluid in about 12 hours. I have to say, this solution tasted pretty good and I managed to get 1.5 liters of it down in a couple of hours.
If you can't get any fluids in her by the morning and she's still not urinating, you must take her to the ER for IV rehydration. Also, watch for a fever over 101.3, rapid respiration, or rapid pulse. These can be signs of a more serious infection and onset of sepsis.
Now that I've given you the worst case scenarios, you should know that this is probably just a mild bug and your daughter will be just fine once she feels up to drinking again.
Not all "bugs" cause fever. I'd let her sleep. Medical people recommend giving just a tablespoon or two of fluids when a child is vomiting over a prolonged period. Perhaps she'll take just a sip or let you pour just a bit into her mouth.
I suggest that since this started this evening you don't need to worry about dehydration for awhile. Do you know the signs of dehydration? loose skin, no tears, doesn't pee. You have time to rehydrate when you notice a lack of tears/pee if you're keeping watch.
If she still won't drink tomorrow, try giving her a popscicle.
You might call the nurses line? She could be dehydrated. When Im dehydrated, I cannot keep anything down!
Her throat probably hurts, give her ice pops :)
If she is still not drinking go to the hospital. She needs to get help.
Get her to a doctor or ER. She could be dehydrated, have a stomach blockage, many things...At the very least they can give you peace of mind and get an IV in her to keep her hydrated. I am sorry. Poor baby
It sounds like a stomach bug. I have a 13 month old and he has had 3. He would never take the pedialyte either so we did either water or watered down gatoraide or juice; anything but milk. I was always worried when hE would sleep a lot but they told me the same thing Mamatothreewee said about looking hehydrated. Call the nurse for peace of mind. I took mine to the MD for the first 2 viruses and both times I felt like they thought I was overreacting a little. Good luck and I hope your little one gets to feeling better soon!
Call the pediatrician right now and ask them: How many wet diapers should she have had over X hours? They can give you a "formula" that indicates how much she should have urinated. It sounds like she may well be dehyrdated if she was throwing up every 30 minutes and has had only one wet diaper but I do not know the exact timing of it all. Ask them directly if they think you should take her for rehydration now. It's nothing to mess around with and she's too young to tell you how she is feeling. As for lack of fever -- my daughter had vomiting and a fever recently for a day and the doctor's office said that fever plus vomiting usually is the sign of a virus and if there were no fever they would lean toward its being foodborne illness. If you take her for rehydration have them do a blood test to rule out foodborne illnesses (which can be extremely serious in small children). Not trying to scare you, it's very likely a virus, but have them just check as a mattter of course if the doctor sends you for rehydration anyway.
Sleep is good for now...being that sick uses alot of energy.
My middle guy slept for three days straight after a run of the stomach bug last summer. He woke up four times to nibble..He was still in a pull up at the time...He even slept through changes.
If you can get her to sip or even suck a Popsicle that would be the best.
After the stomach bug this year the doc told me if they go any longer then 12 hours with out pee or poo....and their eyes and mouth look on the dry side get them in Emergency style...You will know when their eyes and mouths look dry...They eyes have almost no shine and there mouth gets dry and chalky. Also if she is having crying without tears is a sign you need to get her in ASAP.
Kids sadly can stop and start with the vomiting. My kids last time around were doing it off and on for like a week.
With her being so little still my gut advice to you is get her in...better be safe then in an Emergency run situation..Where everyone is frantic and stressed.
Know though if you take her...They will have to give her an IV...Children's Hospitals are the best for this type of stuff. If you dont have one near by it is no biggie though...It may just take one or two more people to help...Once they are in they normally forget about it and pass out.
They will most likely give her Zofran too...and if she was that sick...It is the best thing for her. It is a Chemo grad anti-vomiting medication. They given it in small enough doses that it settles the stomach and prevents further vomiting for at least 6 to 8 hours.
The first time they are sick like this it is the worst.
Make sure you are taking the best precautions you can....so you dont get it too. Having a newly healthy kiddo and being sick is no fun for anyone:)
Hang in there mamas....:)
