my son is 20 months old, how do you tell the difference between food poisoning or just a 24 hour virus?

Question

yesterday he woke up with diarreaha but still was in a GREAT mood (playing running around everything) around 6pm he started throwing up and wouldnt even drink anything, he woke up every 30-454 minutes throwing up eventually just dry heaving cause he stopped eating. we desperately tried to get him to drink but then he fell asleep no throwup from 11 pm-6am when he was drinking like a camel! he wouldnt drink too much water so i ended up giving him his juice (which i was worried would make him sick) and it did he ended up throwing up after guzzling the juice. However he still wants to drink and has been drinking hhis juice for the past 20 mins without throwing up. my question is since the symptoms are so close and its a sunday how do i know if this is something that should be treated by a dr or something that looks soon to be over like a 24 hour virus? anyone know? hes not upset right now hes just very content watching cartoons but who knows if hell start throwing up again?

no he never had a fever (weird) and still doesnt so i didnt give him any meds...trying to ride it out..

Answer 1

Food poisoning is usually violent vomiting. There are a bunch of stomach bugs going around right now, so more than likely he's picked up one of those.

Don't give him any medication like Immodium or Pepto - those can make viruses last longer, and often give bad stomach cramps.

Small amounts of clear fluids (pedialyte, gatorade mixed with water, or flat coca-cola or ginger ale) are your best bets. Juices can make any diarrhea worse, and milk isn't easily digested. Ice pops and solid jello count towards fluids too! You want to do small amounts frequently - like a teaspoonful every ten minutes until he goes 4 hours without vomiting. Once he goes at least 4 hours without vomiting, increase the amount. Once he goes six to eight hours without vomiting, add back some bland solids. Crackers, rice, bananas, applesauce, toast, pretzels, noodles, etc. are good bland choices that will also bind up the diarrhea.

If your child absolutely refuses to drink anything, or isn't urinating, he needs to see the doctor ASAP. If he's still vomiting without any lessen in the frequency after 36 hours, he needs to see the doctor.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Normally with food poisoning the person has severe cramping and pain in the belly. Try getting your son some pedialite for children as it contains the electrolytes and all that stuff to replace whats he has lost thru vomiting. Get him to drink sprite, or water along with his juice. Or water down his juice. If he is that thirsty he is probably already a bit dehydrated. Can give him some broth in his bottle also. Try to get him to eat something lite on the tummy. Jello most kids like. Scrambled egg, hot cereal, toast, etc. As long as there is no fever he should be on the road to recovery. Make sure to let him get plenty of rest and liquids.

Answer 4

Test for dehydration in an infant or toddler by pinching up the skin on the back of their hand. If they're dehydrated the skin will take moments to return to normal, if they are ok it will pop back down instantaneously. Be very careful of severe vomiting accompanied by diarrhea, since dehydration is a killer of young children whether it's a virus or food poisoning. They'd need a blood test to know whether he's got food poisoning or any other sort of infection, so if it starts again I would not be taking chances, I'd be taking him to a clinic right away, he is too young to go through too much of that and it puts him in danger.

Answer 5

I would go and get him checked out just in case. That way you'll all get a better nights sleep and it's just good to know that the things going round in your head (and at night time it all seems 100 times worse I think) are just that and that's he's got a little tummy upset. It's still no consolation for an upset little one so I would get him checked out. Most clinics/hospitals would say the same with a little one that age. Hope he gets better. Ooh and no milk or yoghurts or anything dairy...this will make him sick for sure.

Answer 6

my kids had that and it was just a bug i was told it was a 24 hr bug and it last 6 days ( and i had 4 of them with it nice eh!?!).
Anyway they advised us 2 make them eat toast and soup as there was no evidence that them not eatng helped and so we had 2 make them eat like half a slice of toast at breakfast lunch and dinner and we had 2 make sure they took sips of water every so often so they don't become dehydrated. If i were u if it's not cleared after 48hrs i would get the doc 2 come and check him over. Good luck and hope he gets over it soon it's horrid for them ain't it. xxx

Answer 7

I know it is sunday but I would take him to the ER.It is very difficult to tell the difference between food poisioning & flu and with your son being that young I would not take any chances better to be safe then sorry..Take him to the Er..Best Wishes

Answer 8

If he is throwing up and not getting liquids you need to take him to the emergency room to make sure he doesnt get dehydrated. but he may be alright if he sips his juice and doesnt throw up any more. and you didnt mention a fever or anything so I dont know to tell you to give him tylenol or anything......

Answer 9

whether you think your child might have the flu or food poisioning the doctor should be contacted. it sounds more like a belly ache which is alot more common in children than food posioning. unless you think you brought him to a restaurant and they had undercooked chicken or bad fish??