Diarrhea and vomiting are fairly common problems in children. Once again this is almost always caused by a virus, which, has no medical treatment. The diarrhea is the body’s method of flushing out the infection before it can cause too much damage. Our goal in therapy is not to stop the diarrhea but to replace the fluids that are lost until the body heals itself. This usually only takes 2-4 days. Our therapy choice is initially Pedialyte or Gatorade for 6-12 hours and then starting a more solid diet to firm up the stools. If you give clear liquids more than 24-36 hours, you will get diarrhea from the clear liquids themselves. So before the end of the first 24 hours it is recommended to start “white” foods like bread, bananas, toast, noodles, crackers, rice, and potatoes. Avoid dairy products, fruits and vegetables for a few days. See details of the “White Diet” in Select Topics.

Dr. Stephen Robinson