Stomach Virus

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Thinking stomach virus?

Stomach flu or virus is inflammation of the stomach and intestines due to a virus.
Pharmacist

Symptoms of stomach flu usually appear within 4 - 48 hours after exposure to the viral contaminated food or water.



Girl holding her stomach

Let's see if your child need to go to the hospital right away or if it is something you can take care of yourself.

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Stomach flu

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Need ER?


Child should be experiencing diarrhea at the moment.
Pharmacist

The important thing with stomach virus illness is to make sure there is no dehydration or any other potentially life threatening situation.

Let's start with that.

 

With this diarrhea, does he or she also have blood in the stool?

Or mucus in the stool?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • It may not be of viral origin.
  • Possibly a bacterial or parasitic cause of stomach inflammation in this case.
  • E.coli, Salmonella, Shigella comes to mind.
  • Child will have to go to the emergency room or urgent care clinic for stool testings and even documentation.
  • May have to be given antibiotic or antiparasitic medication depending on the stool culture and other clinic evaluations.
  • In viral infections, stools rarely contain mucus or blood.
  • All patients with bloody diarrhea will have to be tested for E. coli at a minimum.
  • Don't try to have child ride this out.

Nearest ER

 

What about fever or chills?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the pediatrician.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Need professional evaluation.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is he or she feeling faint, dizzy?

Or confused?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible signs of dehydration.

Nearest ER

 

Ask the child:
Does your mouth feel dry or sticky?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible dehydration territory.

Signs of dehydration:

  • Feeling lethargic
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dry mouth
  • Sticky mouth

Nearest ER

 

Does the eyes look sunken?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Looking at a possible dehydration.

Signs of dehydration:

  • Feeling lethargic
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dry mouth
  • Sticky mouth
  • Sunken eyes

Nearest ER

 

Any urine output the past 8 hours or so?
Pharmacist

 

 

Do you feel the heart pounding or racing?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible sign of dehydration.

Nearest ER

 

Pinch the skin of the stomach or thigh.
Using the thumb and a bent forefinger.

Did the skin get back to normal immediately after releasing it?
Pharmacist

This is known as the 'Pinch test'.

 

No?
If not dehydrated, the skin fold should retract immediately.
Pharmacist

Results to expect:

  • Normal:
    Skin fold retracts immediately.

  • Mild or moderate dehydration:
    Skin fold is visible for less than 2 seconds while retracting.

  • Severe dehydration:
    Skin fold visible for longer than 2 seconds while retracting.

Nearest ER

 


Dehydration is a life threatening emergency.
Pharmacist

If you think child is looking at dehydration, go to the emergency room or the nearest urgent care clinic. Do not delay.

If you think child is okay, let's continue.

If you answered 'Yes' to the 'Pinch test' question, tap on the 'FYI' button below to see the result to expect in case you want to try it later.

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Results to expect:

  • Normal:
    Skin fold retracts immediately.

  • Mild or moderate dehydration:
    Skin fold is visible for less than 2 seconds while retracting.

  • Severe dehydration:
    Skin fold visible for longer than 2 seconds while retracting.

FYI Continue

 

 

 

 

Stomach flu

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Is it stomach virus?


A lot of things can cause diarrhea.
Pharmacist

Let's try to narrow it down to stomach flu as much as possible. Then we will see if the child can ride it out or need to go to the doctor.

 

Does anybody else have the same symptoms your child is experiencing?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Suspecting stomach virus.
Pharmacist

Stomach virus can affect one person or a group of people who all ate the same food or drank the same water.

 

Did the child come in contact with similarly ill people within the last 2 days?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Strong possibility of stomach flu.
Pharmacist

 

Did it start after he or she ate dairy products?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Possibly looking at lactose intolerance.
Pharmacist

 

Is he or she taking any antibiotics lately?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Most antibiotics can cause diarrhea.
Pharmacist

 

Did the child eat fat-free potato chips or ice cream?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
The olestra in these can cause diarrhea.
Pharmacist

 


Can the child ride this out?
Pharmacist

Let's see if the child can ride this out or will need to see a doctor.

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Stomach flu

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How bad is it?

How many times has the child used the bathroom so far?
Pharmacist


Pharmacist

3 times or less.

May be able to ride this out.

If you are seeing the signs of dehydration, you must have child seek urgent care or give the doctor a call.

Those signs are:

  • Dry or sticky mouth

  • Low or no urine output for 8 hrs. Urine looks dark Orange or amber

  • No tears

  • Sunken eyes

  • Increased thirst

  • Palpitations (feeling the heart pounding)

  • Confusion and dizziness

  • No sweat.

  • Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up

  • Cool hands and feet.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend you do or use over-the-counter to take care of this stomach flu situation that your child may have.

 

Watch out for dehydration.

If there are other symptoms or feeling weak from the diarrhea, you should seek urgent care or take child to the emergency room.

If you are seeing the signs of dehydration, you must have child seek urgent care or give the doctor a call.

Those signs are:

  • Dry or sticky mouth

  • Low or no urine output for 8 hrs. Urine looks dark Orange or amber

  • No tears

  • Sunken eyes

  • Increased thirst

  • Palpitations (feeling the heart pounding)

  • Confusion and dizziness

  • No sweat.

  • Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up

  • Cool hands and feet.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend you do or use over-the-counter if the list above does not apply to your child.

 

Seek Urgent Care.

If you are seeing the signs of dehydration, you must seek urgent care or take child to the emergency room.

Those signs are:

  • Dry or sticky mouth

  • Low or no urine output for 8 hrs. Urine looks dark Orange or amber

  • No tears

  • Sunken eyes

  • Increased thirst

  • Palpitations (feeling the heart pounding)

  • Confusion and dizziness

  • No sweat.

  • Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up

  • Cool hands and feet.