PEDIAVANCE^® ELECTROLYTE

Illness Can Lead to Dehydration

• Flu including Novel H1N1 (Swine Flu)

  The common symptoms of the flu may include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Chills
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea

  Flu symptoms can be mild or severe. If they are mild, they can become severe without much notice, especially in young children. Vomiting, diarrhea and fever can dry up the body’s normal level of fluids which leads to dehydration. In infants and children, an oral electrolyte solution, such as PediaVance^® Electrolyte, is usually preferred to prevent or treat dehydration. Common household beverages, such as juices and sodas or plain water, are often not recommended because they do not contain the appropriate balance of water and minerals (sodium, potassium and chloride) to maintain hydration. Treatment of the flu should also include getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids to maintain hydration. Always check with your healthcare professional before using any medications. Medications may be recommended to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. Infants and children with flu symptoms should not take aspirin because aspirin ingestion could lead to Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal liver disease.

• Food Poisoning

  Food poisoning occurs in situations where food may be left unrefrigerated too long causing bacterial growth or food preparation techniques are not clean. Food poisoning can also occur from consuming undercooked meats or from the improper canning of foods. A number of different organisms can cause food poisoning. These include E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and the botulism organism. Symptoms from the most common types of food poisoning usually start within 2 to 6 hours of eating the responsible food item. However, the time may be longer depending on the toxin or organism causing the poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Weakness
  • Headache

  Always check with your healthcare professional when these symptoms occur. Also, always check with your healthcare professional before using any medications. A major goal in the treatment of food poisoning is to avoid dehydration. Hold off on solid foods until the diarrhea has passed and drink lots of fluids. In infants and children, an oral electrolyte solution, such as PediaVance^® Electrolyte Solution, will usually be recommended to assure that the appropriate mix and balance of water, carbohydrates and minerals are taken in to the body to prevent or treat dehydration. Milk and dairy products, sodas, juices and other household beverages may worsen diarrhea.

• Rotavirus

  Symptoms of a rotavirus infection can include:

  • Watery diarrhea
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fever
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Runny nose
  • Cough

  Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in infants and young children. Sometimes the diarrhea is so severe, it can quickly lead to dehydration. So always call your healthcare professional when signs of rotavirus appear. Also, your healthcare professional may recommend a rotavirus vaccine as a part of the routine immunizations given to all infants to help prevent a rotavirus infection. For mild to moderate diarrhea with no signs of dehydration, normal food consumption should continue but more liquids should be provided. An oral electrolyte solution, such as PediaVance^® Electrolyte, should be given in small, frequent amounts to prevent or correct dehydration. Fruit juices and sodas should always be avoided because they can make the diarrhea worse. Always check with your healthcare professional before using any medications. Medications may be recommended to relieve any fever. Infants and children with symptoms should not take aspirin because aspirin may lead to Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal liver disease.

• Viral Gastroenteritis (Stomach and Intestinal Flu)

  The common symptoms of viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu or intestinal flu) are similar to the flu and may include one or more of the following:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Mild fever
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Chills
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle aches

  The illness may develop over a period of hours or it may suddenly start with stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea. When symptoms first appear, it is important to rest the stomach and intestines to treat this illness. Dehydration can become a serious complication of stomach flu or intestinal flu. It can occur when the body loses too much fluid because of vomiting and diarrhea. When the first signs of gastric or intestinal flu appear, solid foods and milk or milk products should not be consumed. Clear liquids are recommended. For infants and children, an oral electrolyte solution, such as PediaVance^® Oral Electrolyte, is usually preferred over household beverages to prevent dehydration and maintain the body’s water and minerals (sodium, potassium and chloride) at appropriate levels. An oral electrolyte solution is also preferred over acidic liquids such as fruit juices and carbonated beverages which can further upset the stomach. Small, frequent sips of the oral electrolyte solution are important especially if there has been frequent vomiting. Once liquids are well tolerated, soft bland foods that are easy to digest can be given. In severe situations, dehydration can quickly become life threatening and hospitalization may be required whereby intravenous fluids are needed to maintain hydration. Always check with your healthcare professional before using any medications. Medications may be recommended to relieve the fever and muscle aches associated with stomach or intestinal flu. Infants and children with stomach or intestinal flu symptoms should not take aspirin because ingested aspirin could lead to Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal liver disease. If symptoms persist for more than a few days or if there is bloody vomit or bloody diarrhea or severe stomach pain, contact your healthcare provider immediately to be sure that more serious problems are not occurring and to check for dehydration.

• Norovirus (Norwalk Virus)

  Norwalk virus and Norwalk-like viruses (NLV) cause gastrointestinal illness. These viruses usually occur in outbreaks and are one of the leading causes of food borne diseases in the United States, usually associated with eating raw oysters or clams or swallowing stool-contaminated food or water. An infection from one of these viruses is more prevalent in adults and older children but could occur in young children. The symptoms of an infection from the Norwalk virus or from Norwalk-like viruses usually last for 2 to 3 days and may include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach cramps