Dehydration

Dehydration is when your body is passing out more fluids than it is taking in – through vomit, diarrhoea or sweat.

Being hydrated helps the body function. When you are being sick or have diarrhoea, your body is losing the important salts and chemicals it needs. This is one of the reasons it can make you feel poorly.

Signs of Dehydration

To begin with babies and young children will seem thirsty. They might have a dry mouth and cracked lips. You might then notice;

• Dark coloured wee or not weeing often – less than 4 wet nappies / big wees in a day
• You cannot get your child to take any fluids
• Babies may have a sunken ‘soft spot’ (fontanelle)
• Drowsiness and / or fast breathing, a fast beating heart.

Keeping Your Child Hydrated

• Continue to offer fluids little and often – you could try offering from a spoon or clean medicine syringe
• Try ice lollies
• Ask your Pharmacist for advice on using diluted rehydration powders to replace salts and chemicals. 

Keep a close eye on your child in case the dehydration gets worse and needs medical attention. If left untreated dehydration can be very dangerous.

Stopping Sickness Bugs from Spreading

Wash your hands really well with warm soapy water. This is the best way to stop spread.

• You can use anti-bacterial hand rubs too – this should not be instead of hand washing.
• Wash all bed linen and towels on a hot wash.
• Wipe down kitchen surfaces, toilets, hand basins and door handles with bleach based cleaner.

Getting Back to Normal After a Bug

The bug is often infectious to others so do not return to nursery, school or work until 48 hours after the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea. This is to reduce the risk of it passing around.

You shouldn’t go swimming until two weeks after the bug ends.

Whenever possible keep away from people who are more likely to be made very poorly by a bug such as the very old, the very young and those who already have health problems.

You shouldn’t visit anyone in a hospital or nursing home, or attend hospital appointments until 48 hours of no symptoms.