Dr Bernadette Carr answers your questions on getting over the vomiting bug

Dr Bernadette Carr answers your questions on how your child can get over a nasty vomiting bug and how young children or babies develop a squint eye.

Q. The entire family, myself included are just over a nasty vomiting bug. 

We are on the mend but my two younger children, aged four and seven, are still quite lethargic.

What can I do to build up their energy levels?

A. Winter can be a time when many people find themselves more susceptible to catching coughs, colds and bugs. 

Children especially may be vulnerable, particularly if they are in a crèche or school environment where they are in close contact with other children on a daily basis.

Most often a vomiting bug like this will be due to a virus which travels in the air and is spread through contact with people who have the virus or from touching surfaces or objects which have the virus on them.

Vomiting and diarrhoea in these cases can be very unpleasant.

Vomiting usually clears in two to three days, while diarrhoea in a viral stomach infection may last up to a week.

Fevers and feeling generally unwell will often go along with vomiting or diarrhoea.

Most cases of winter vomiting bug can be easily managed at home with rest and fluids.

It is important to remain well hydrated if you have a vomiting bug. This is especially the case in young children who may easily become dehydrated.

Taking small sips of water often is a good idea, even with an upset stomach.

Taking flat lemonade or oral rehydration salts is a good way to maintain blood sugar and energy levels.

It is important that the children are getting enough fluids even if their appetite is reduced.

Encouraging fluids and small amounts of plain, high energy food like toast or mashed potato can help to build up appetite and energy levels after a bug.

Monitoring of temperatures is also a good idea.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen in age-appropriate doses will help to relieve temperature if it is present.

It is always important to be aware of any deterioration in children.

Any child with a high temperature who does not settle with these measures, or who remains unduly lethargic, should be immediately brought to their GP.

Q. My four-month-old son is healthy in every respect except that he seems to have a turned eye.

Could this be temporary?

A. A turned eye or squint can occur in people of any age and may occur in young children and babies where one eye appears not to be focused in the same direction as the other.

The direction of the turn may vary and may be down, up, in or out.

The squint may be permanent or occur intermittently and the squint may not always be obvious to observe.

Squints may occur in very young babies and newborns, however, most will resolve completely by four months of age.

A squint that develops in a baby within the first six months of life is known as a congenital squint and most often there is no underlying cause.

These squints occur because some of the muscles in the eye are weaker than the others resulting in an imbalance.

Often, children with a congenital squint may have other family members with the condition.

If a persistent squint is not corrected, there may be difficulty using this eye to focus as the brain tends to ignore signals from it and it becomes a ‘lazy eye’ which can cause permanent difficulties with vision.

Squint may also occur after this time which is known as an acquired squint.

If you notice any squint in your child have him assessed by your doctor so that a referral can be made to an eye specialist who will be able to assess your baby’s sight and begin treatment.

In some cases an operation will be performed to help focus the direction of sight and improve the appearance of the squint which is associated with good outcomes.

The earlier a squint is treated, the better the outcome.