Diarrhea After Stomach Flu

Drink More and Drink Wisely

You should always keep your body hydrated. It may not be that easy because you sometimes feel repulsive when drinking or don't feel thirsty at all. Even if that's the case, don't stop drinking fluids to avoid dehydrating, which is a possibility when you have diarrhea or are vomiting. Children should drink at least an ounce of fluid every half an hour.

Remember, it is important to drink slowly, and talk to your doctor to confirm if drinking water is enough or you need to drink something else to provide your body with electrolytes and minerals that it may be losing quickly due to diarrhea. They may recommend an oral rehydration solution such as Naturalyte, Infalyte, CeraLyte, or Pedialtye for children and ask adults to drink diluted sports drinks, diluted juices, or decaffeinated tea. Keep in mind that caffeinated, carbonated, sugary, or alcoholic drinks are only going to make your diarrhea worse, so select and drink wisely.

Eat the Right Food

Drinking plenty of fluids is one important thing to do when you still have diarrhea after stomach flu. It is equally important, however, to keep eating the right food. It will definitely be difficult to eat and keep food down when you're suffering from the stomach flu. While it is a good idea not to force yourself too hard to eat when it makes you nauseous, you should try to eat something to keep yourself going. The best thing is to stick to the BRAT diet.

The diet has four basic components, including Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. You can eat these whenever you have an upset stomach. These food items are good because they are all a rich source of carbohydrates and provide your body with some energy. They are quite easy to digest and help a lot in replenishing nutrients your body may have lost through diarrhea and vomiting.

Bananas are especially good to provide your body with enough potassium that you lose quickly through vomiting. Remember, it is a good idea to opt for white rice because it doesn't contain a lot of fiber like brown rice and is easy to digest as well. Similarly, applesauce is a good choice because it contains pectin that helps a lot with diarrhea.

Be sure to stay away from fiber-heavy foods, dairy, or anything spicy.

Take Enough Rest

Yes, that's right – you will be better off making some quick changes to your busy schedule to trigger recovery. Your body cannot fight off the virus when you don't give it enough rest. Get plenty of sleep and avoid your regular activities. You need to understand that even when you're resting, your body is at work and always trying hard to repair your body on the cellular level.

Skip OTC Medication

When your child is suffering from gastroenteritis, you should avoid giving them OTC medication. It is never that simple, especially when you see your little one finding it difficult to deal with all the symptoms. Remember, when it comes to stomach flu, time is often the best medicine. Most over-the-counter medications will do nothing, and they may even aggravate the whole situation. Ibuprofen, for instance, is only going to upset your child's stomach, whereas acetaminophen can lead to liver problems. Antibiotics are never going to work when you're waging a battle against viruses. You may, however, consider giving your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen if he has a fever as well.

See a Doctor

You should go see your doctor if gastroenteritis symptoms aren't getting any better even after 5 days. It is also important to see your doctor if you notice dehydration, bloody diarrhea, or constant abdominal pain. It is a good idea to go check with your doctor because sometimes you may have stomach flu, but you may have an underlying disease that may require a different treatment. Don't wait to see your doctor if you experience no urine production, dry mouth, dry mucus membrane, weakness, no tears, low blood pressure, or light headedness – these symptoms indication severe dehydration.