Question

My child is vomiting and having diarrhea, and they seem to have no energy. They are expelling pasty stool, and I don’t know how to handle this at home……

Answer

Your child may have acute gastroenteritis, especially during this season, when rotavirus gastroenteritis (autumn vomiting syndrome) is more common. Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration and disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, so it’s important to seek medical treatment at a local pediatric clinic as soon as possible.

  1. Medical Treatment
    • General Treatment: Keep your child in bed as much as possible and give them oral glucose electrolyte solutions to replenish lost fluids. If vomiting continues or there is significant dehydration, intravenous fluids of 5% - 10% glucose saline solution and other necessary electrolytes may be required. Encourage them to eat light, liquid or semi-solid foods to prevent dehydration or mild dehydration.
    • Symptomatic Treatment: If necessary, antiemetic drugs such as chlorpromazine 25-100mg per day by intramuscular injection can be used. Antispasmodic drugs like opium poppy seed extract 8n11 times a day, three times a day. Antidiarrheal drugs like kaolin pectin 1 bag per dose, twice to three times a day.
    • Antibacterial Treatment: The efficacy of antibiotics in the treatment of this disease is controversial. For infectious vomiting, targeted antibiotics such as berberine hydrochloride 0.3g taken orally three times a day or gentamicin 80,000 units taken orally three times a day can be used if appropriate. However, antibiotic overuse should be avoided.