What's Normal When Your Kid Has a Stomach Bug?

Episode Transcript

Interviewer: It seems like your kids' stomach bug is lasting forever. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner, how long is normal?

Dr. Gellner: We're seeing a lot of this lately, the stomach virus going around that causes vomiting and diarrhea. While vomiting usually stops in about 6 to 24 hours, diarrhea can last up to 2 weeks. So don't be surprised if that lingers. The good news is the first few days are usually the worst. If your child has vomiting without diarrhea and it last for several days, it's time to get checked out. If you see blood in the vomit and your child hasn't had a nosebleed or a mouth injury, get them checked out quickly in the emergency room, as it could be serious. And if your child hasn't peed for over 12 hours, it's also time to go to the emergency room. You're going to want to keep them hydrated. Small sips of clear fluids and no solid foods for about four hours once they've started vomiting.

updated: August 25, 2021
originally published: January 9, 2018

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