Frequently Asked Questions

On Diarrhea/Vomiting
If you have any questions, please call the office.

Lattimore Rd: (585) 244-9729
Bushnell's Basin: (585) 381-3780
After hours: (585) 244-9720

Most vomiting is caused by a viral infection of the stomach or eating something which disagrees with the child. Vomiting or diarrhea may occasionally be a sign of something more serious. If any of the following signs occur, please call the office: significant abdominal pain, decreased urine output, lethargy, bloody diarrhea, urinary frequency or pain, or any other sighs that worry you. Vomiting usually stops in 12 – 24 hours.

What should I do when my child vomits?
For the first few hours, give your child 1 – 2 teaspoons (depending on age) of room temperature, clear liquids. For breast fed infants continue to breast feed but for shorter times. Bottle fed infants should be given Pedialyte in small amounts, or diluted formula. After the first few hours, you may give increased volumes of clear fluid until 8 hours have passed without vomiting.

A common error is to give too much fluid too quickly. The key is to give small amounts of fluid at frequent intervals. This way, even if your child continues to vomit, enough fluid is absorbed to hopefully prevent dehydration.

Please refer to our Don't Panic Packet for more ideas.

My child was vomiting, but now has diarrhea. What should I do?
Diarrhea is a watery stool that occurs more than 4 times a day. When a child has a stomach virus, they often experience diarrhea much longer than the actual vomiting. The diarrhea may often last for several days to a week or longer. The best way to treat diarrhea initially is with diet. Avoid apple, pear or prune juices which can loosen stools. If diarrhea is prolonged, avoid milk products, which may become difficult to digest. Provide adequate fluids. The goal is not to stop the diarrhea, but to provide proper nutrition to heal the intestines. Signs of adequate hydration include a normal, or near normal urine output, a moist mouth, and an alert child who is reasonable active.

Will an electrolyte solution such as Pedialyte help my child's diarrhea?
Electrolyte containing solutions are clear liquids, and will not help stop diarrhea. They may help prevent dehydration, and may help replace the salts that are lost in vomiting and diarrhea. If your child is having loose stools, but only having 3 – 4 bowel movements a day, electrolyte solutions are not going to be helpful, except as a thirst quencher.

Watch for signs of dehydration:

• dry mouth and tongue
• No tears
• Decrease in urine output (less than two wet diapers or urination's a day

Call our office urgently if:

• Your child is under 1 month old and forcefully vomits more than once
• Your child has sings of dehydration
• There is any blood in the vomit
• There is any abdominal pain present for over 4 hours
• There is any possibility of poisoning with a plant, medicine, or bad food