Special Guidelines for Infants

Gastroenteritis is a common cause of diarrhea in infants. Follow these steps to prevent and treat dehydration in your infant:

• If your child is breastfed, continuing breastfeeding often. You may want to try breastfeeding more often for shorter periods of time.
• If your child is formula-fed, offer small amounts of formula often. Having more frequent, smaller feedings may help to reduce vomiting. Be sure your child is receiving at least as much fluid and nutrition as he normally does. Extra feeding will almost certainly be necessary to avoid dehydration. Be sure to consult the doctor, nurse, or an emergency room if your infant seems ill or is not getting enough nutrition.
• Do not dilute formula. This can prolong your infant’s illness and will not supply adequate nutrition. Do not feed an infant salty foods or drinks during an episode of gastroenteritis. These can lead to a particularly dangerous form of dehydration under certain circumstances.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends giving an ORS at the onset of diarrhea. It is important to continue regular feedings of breast milk or formula along with this therapy. Once dehydration has been corrected, the doctor may have you return to normal breast or formula feedings. Dehydration can be serious. Get medical care right away if your child is not tolerating the feedings or the rehydration solution.

Special Guidelines for Children

As much as possible during and after an episode of gastroenteritis, your child should eat normally to maintain nutrition. After his symptoms improve, he may need extra calories to make up for losses during his illness. If your child has gastroenteritis, follow these steps:

• Give small amounts of fluid frequently.
• Avoid sugary drinks, like fruit juices, fruit drinks, soft drinks, or sports drinks.
• Offer your child the foods he normally eats. Avoid foods that may upset his stomach or make symptoms worse.
• Smaller, more frequent meals may be helpful.
• Give an ORS to your child if the doctor recommends it. Remember that these solutions do not cure diarrhea, nor do they cut down on the length of time children are sick with diarrhea. But, giving an ORS may help to prevent dehydration.

For infants and children:

• Do not withhold food.
• Do not dilute (“water down”) food or formula.

Special Guidelines for Adults

For adults with gastroenteritis, these steps can help you feel better and prevent dehydration:

• If you are vomiting, let your stomach settle before eating.
• Suck on ice chips or take small sips of water. Drinking a large amount of liquid at once can make vomiting worse. You can also try drinking:
  • Sports drinks (if you do not have a condition like diabetes that requires limiting your intake of simple sugars)
  • Clear broth (if you do not need to limit your salt intake)
• Ease into eating. Once you are no longer vomiting, slowly return to your normal diet. This will help to shorten the amount of time you spend having diarrhea. You could try with easy-to-digest, bland foods. You might also try eating small meals throughout the day.