How Dr Norovirus? Kieran: Phil Can My Child Help Recover After I

Dr Phil Kieran: How can I help my child recover after norovirus? — Vomiting Norovirus Small, Is Highly A ‘winter Illness’ Picture: Virus Contagious That Istock Causes

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024 - 02:00

3156122_1_org_phil_kieran_Circle_headshot

Practitioner General

We had a dose of norovirus in the family two weeks ago. My two-year-old was the most seriously affected and has only just recovered. He’s off-form and barely interested in his food. Is there a tonic I could give him?

Norovirus is a small, highly contagious virus that causes ‘winter vomiting illness’. Most of us have heard of this condition during outbreaks in hospitals when people are advised not to visit for fear of passing it on.

The virus has an incubation period of one to two days, so it spreads rapidly through a household. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea, lasting two to three days. You can remain contagious for up to 48 hours after your symptoms stop, so keep this in mind if planning to visit anyone.

This illness is an ordeal for an adult with a well-developed immune system who fully understands why they feel unwell and the need to continue to stay hydrated. (Having worked on wards during outbreaks and having had the virus a few times, I empathise fully with anyone going through it.)

As children are much smaller, they are at a significantly higher risk of becoming dehydrated after an illness that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Once the virus runs its course, children typically bounce back to normal almost immediately. They will start to eat and drink as they did before, and it can sometimes be hard to believe they were as sick as they were just the day before. However, the virus can sometimes leave them feeling run down and unwell.

I would love to tell you there is a magic food or tonic that would get your son up and running, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

The main focus is ensuring the child is well-hydrated, and their appetite has returned to normal. Seeing as your child’s symptoms have gone on for two weeks, I would suggest having him checked out by his GP to make sure he isn’t still dehydrated, which can lead to reduced appetite and energy levels.

Some children develop lactose intolerance after a bout of norovirus, which can prolong their diarrhoea. This response can also reduce their appetite, as they feel bloated and uncomfortable after eating dairy foods.

If your child is not dehydrated and the GP believes there are no underlying conditions, I suggest excluding dairy from his diet for a week or so and gently re-introducing it.

You will know if this works as appetite and energy will improve over a few days of excluding lactose. This type of lactose intolerance usually resolves quickly, and your child should be back on a normal diet within a few weeks.