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6 Effective Ways for Treating Stomach Flu

By Cathy Whims on July 16, 2013

Stomach flu is also known as viral gastroenteritis. It is a very common infection of stomach and intestines found in children.

This is the second most common illness encountered in American families. Stomach flu can affect anyone from babies to the elderly.

In most of the cases, stomach flu can disappear in 1-3 days, but in certain instances it can stay up to a week.

If it is left untreated, it will become severe. So, it is very important treating stomach flu.

Here are the most effective ways of treating stomach flu:

1. Drinking plenty of fluids: Stomach flu can usually cause diarrhea and vomiting. If the diarrhea becomes more severe, then your kid will become dehydrated. So, it is highly important to drink plenty of fluids, such as water and sports drinks that can aid to replenish as well as hydrate your body.

Keeping your kid’s body well hydrated can help in treating stomach flu quickly. Avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages as well as soft drinks.

2. Try oral rehydration solutions: When you kid is experiencing severe diarrhea and vomiting, you need to replace the lost electrolytes that are essential for proper cell functioning in your kid’s body.

Also, it is essential to keep electrolyte balance in the bout of stomach flu. You can find commercially prepared oral rehydration solutions at the drug stores without any prescription.

3. Diet: The virus affects your stomach in such a way that it can’t perform its job. So, it is better to avoid your kid from taking food for few hours. In case if your kid try to fill your stomach with food, it can aggravate the symptoms.

For treating stomach flu completely and quickly, it is better to stay out of some foods, which are quite sensitive during the recovery period.

Banana, rice, apple, avocado, low-fat yogurt, low-fat milk, skim milk, fish, egg, chicken breasts, white bread, stewed meat, carrots and broccoli are few examples of the foods that you can give to your kid during the recovery period.

4. Medications: You can opt for giving antiemetic medications to you children for controlling vomiting. In most of cases, antibiotics are not prescribed for treating this disease. But, they may be prescribed in case of severe symptoms.

5. Get rest: Make sure that your kid takes rest as possible as while treating stomach flu. Stomach virus can make you feel tired and drained of energy. Your kid’s body heals itself while sleeping and this goes for when your kid are sick. Insufficient rest can keep your kid from getting better.

6. Heating pads: When affected with stomach flu, it is accompanied by stomach cramps, you can use heating pads. Put it on your kid’s stomach, but not directly on your skin as it could burn.