Your child had gastroenteritis (also called the "stomach flu"), an infection that causes vomiting (throwing up) and diarrhea (loose or watery poop). Your child stayed in the hospital for treatment and testing. The healthcare team gave them fluids (either by mouth or through an intravenous, or IV line) to replace the losses from vomiting and diarrhea. They also checked your child for different causes of gastroenteritis.

Your child is no longer vomiting, has less diarrhea, and is drinking well. No serious cause of gastroenteritis was found. You can now care for your child at home.

• Let your child rest as needed.
• Offer your child plenty of liquids. They can drink an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand), frozen electrolyte pops (such as Pedialyte® or a store brand), shaved ice, and flavored gelatin. If your healthcare provider says it's OK, they can also drink water or water with a splash of clear fruit juice (such as apple or white grape juice).
• Do not give your child:
  • Sports drinks or full-strength (undiluted) fruit juices, which have a lot of sugar
  • Medicines for nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting unless your healthcare provider prescribes them
• Make any changes to your child's diet that your healthcare provider recommends. Give your child small frequent meals. Try bland foods like crackers, pasta, and soups at first, then slowly help your child go back to their regular diet.
• If your child has a fever and your healthcare provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand).
• Don't give aspirin to your child or teen. It can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
• Keep your child out of school, childcare, and activities until they have their energy back and have had no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever for at least 24 hours.

Your child:

• Starts to vomit again
• Has diarrhea that gets worse or that isn't getting better
• Gets a fever or belly pain
• Isn't drinking their usual amount of liquids at home
• Is still not eating solid foods 3–4 days after going home
• Has blood or mucus in their poop

Your child:

• Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration (not enough water in the body), such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, less pee or darker pee than usual, little or no tears when crying, or unusual sleepiness
• Is vomiting again and again or has vomit that's bright green, red, or brown
• Has severe belly pain, or a swollen or hard belly

You know your child best. If your child has symptoms that worry you or seems very sick, call your healthcare provider or take your child to the ER.

What causes gastroenteritis? Gastroenteritis happens when a germ (virus, bacterium, or parasite) infects the stomach or intestines. Viruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in kids.

How do oral electrolyte solutions help keep a child hydrated? These solutions contain a balanced mix of water, electrolytes (sodium, chloride, and potassium), and sugars (glucose). They replace the liquids and electrolytes that a child loses through diarrhea or vomiting. The solutions help prevent or treat dehydration and keep the body's electrolytes balanced.

Does my child need an antibiotic? Since viruses are the usual cause of gastroenteritis in kids, an antibiotic won't help your child. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, not viruses.

How can we prevent gastroenteritis from spreading? To help prevent the spread of gastroenteritis:

• Teach all family members to wash their hands well and often. They should wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. This is especially important after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.
• Clean tabletops, doorknobs, and other hard surfaces with a cleaner that kills viruses.
• Keep your child out of school or childcare until 24 hours have passed with no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. Also keep your child out of swimming pools until all symptoms have stopped.