Gastro

[Ginger]

Hi there, just wondering if anyone knows the contagious period for gastro? Thanks

[Little Chicken]

I would guess while they are affected by it and just before hand.

[Ginger]

Thanks, and one more question. How long does it usually last for?

[Olive]

i think incubation is 1-3 days before and can be weeks after the runs have stopped
xxx

ETA duration depends unfortunatly
whos sick?

[Ginger]

J woke up at 5am today throwing up and is still throwing up now

[Olive]

poor J
is he drinking at all??
has he got the runs too??

[Ginger]

He's drinking but idk if he's keeping it all down iykwim? He has done one really runny poo.

[Olive]

have you tried syringing in small amounts of water or hydralyte?
if he keeps vomiting id take him down to the hospital not what you want on a sat night but 12 hours of vomiting is alot

[Ginger]

Will try to get some water into him. This sux

[Olive]

it does do you have hydralyte??

[Olive]

Signs and symptoms
•Gastro causes your child to feel unwell, and not want to eat or drink
•Vomiting may happen in the first 24 to 48 hours
•Then your child may have diarrhoea lasting up to one week
•Your child may have some stomach pains
•Your child may also have a fever
Treatment
•Young babies and children can become dehydrated very easily and need to be checked by a doctor. Signs that your child may be dehydrated include drowsiness (being very sleepy and not waking for feeds), dry lips and mouth, not passing wee and cold hands and feet.
•Babies under 6 months may need to be checked again by your doctor after 6 - 12 hours.
•If your child is very dehydrated and cannot keep any fluids down they may need to be admitted to hospital to have fluids by:
•A tube through the nose into the stomach (called a nasogastric or NG tube) or
•Directly into a vein by intravenous therapy.
Care at home
•Children with mild gastro can be looked after at home. The main treatment is to keep your child drinking fluids often. This is needed to replace fluid lost due to the vomiting and diarrhoea. It is important for the fluids to be taken even if the diarrhoea seems to get worse.
•Do not give medicines to reduce the vomiting and diarrhoea. They do not work and may be harmful.
•Your baby or child is infectious so wash your hands well with soap and warm water, particularly before feeding and after changing nappies.
•Keep your child away from other children as much as possible until the diarrhoea has stopped.
Infant feeding
If you are breastfeeding, continue to do this but feed more often. You can give an oral rehydration solution (eg GastrolyteTM, HYDRAlyteTM, Pedialyte or Repalyte ) as well.

If bottle feeding, give oral rehydration solution or clear fluids for the first 12 hours, then give normal formula in small, but more frequent amounts. Offer babies a drink every time they vomit.

Clear fluids
Give small amounts of clear fluid often - ie a few mouthfuls every 15 minutes for all children with diarrhoea or vomiting and especially if your child is vomiting a lot. Give older children one cup (150 - 200ml) of fluid for every big vomit or case of diarrhoea.

Gastrolyte,Hydralyte, Pedialyte and Repalyte are different types of oral rehydration fluid that replace fluids and body salts.

[Junglemum]

As long as he is keeping some down G he should be ok. Got any icypoles? Small sips are better, more likely to stay down.

Gastro bug is a shocker. You can still be contagious for over a week after the symptoms stop. My OB asked me not to come in for a week after i had it for that reason, I thought it may have been overkill but we were spew free for a week, my dad came to visit and he got it 6 days later.

Have you got some antibacterial hand wash? Use lots.

I feel so sorry for you, you've only just got over L's sickness.

[Ginger]

Thanks xox
We've got the icy poles but he's not too keen. He's just had some apple juice so hopefully he can keep that down

[Ginger]

Do I have to keep L home all week? Even if he's not showing any symptoms?

[Olive]

how is J darl???

[melbel]

We recently had gatsro go through the house and Iended up in hospital for four days as a result.....the gastroenterologist said you can be potentiallly contagious for 2-3 weeks after a viral gastro bug and to be extremely vigilant with the hand washing and clothes/nappy/bedding sterilising....we were told to stay away from playgroups, mothergroups etc etc for that time in order to avoid spreading the germs. I was quite shocked that it can hang around for that long but we did the responsible thing and became hermits for a couple of weeks, DH even took a full week off work and when he did go back took the hand sanitiser and all that jazz just to be safe.....gastro is incredibly contagious.

i hope J is feeling a bit better today for you hun and fingers crossed no one else gets sick....

[AnyDream]

Sorry to hear you've got the voms at your house. I wouldn't think you need to keep L at home unless he's showing early signs of unwellness. Keep up the handwashing, also, go crazy with the disinfectant, and dont' put the boys in the bath together. Hope J is better today

[Ginger]

Thanks everyone. J has been fine today. You wouldn't even know he had it yesterday. He's been running around and eating and drinking.