Fluid Intake Decreased

When to Call for Fluid Intake Decreased

Care Advice for Decreased Fluid Intake

1. What You Should Know About A Decreased Fluid Intake:
   • Eating less solids during an illness is normal.
   • Drinking less fluids is not.
   • So far, your child does not have any signs of dehydration.
   • Here are some tips to help increase fluid intake.
2. Fluids - Offer More:
   • Age less than 1 year: keep giving formula or breast milk. You can also try ORS (such as Pedialyte).
   • Age more than 1 year: offer chocolate or regular milk, fruit drinks, juice or water. You can also try popsicles.
   • The type of fluid doesn't matter, as it does with diarrhea or vomiting.
3. Solid Foods - Less Important:
   • Don't worry about solid food intake.
   • It's normal not to feel hungry or want to eat when sick.
   • Preventing dehydration is the only thing that is important.
4. Sore Mouth Treatment:
   • If the mouth is sore, give cold drinks.
   • Do not use citrus juices.
   • For babies, offer fluids in a cup, spoon or syringe rather than a bottle. Reason: the nipple may increase pain.
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol). Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Use as needed.
5. Liquid Antacid for Mouth Pain (Age 1 Year and Older):
   • For mouth pain, use a liquid antacid (such as Mylanta or the store brand). Give 4 times per day as needed. After meals often is a good time.
   • Age 1 to 6 years. Put a few drops in the mouth. Can also put it on with a cotton swab.
   • Age over 6 years. Use 1 teaspoon (5 mL) as a mouth wash. Keep it on the ulcers as long as possible. Then can spit it out or swallow it.
   • Caution: do not use regular mouth washes, because they sting.
6. Nasal Saline to Open a Blocked Nose:
   • Use saline (salt water) nose spray to loosen up the dried mucus. If you don't have saline, you can use a few drops of water. Use distilled water, bottled water or boiled tap water.
   • Step 1. Put 3 drops in each nostril. If under 1 year old, use 1 drop.
   • Step 2. Blow (or suction) each nostril out while closing off the other nostril. Then, do the other side.
   • Step 3. Repeat nose drops and blowing (or suctioning) until the discharge is clear.
   • How Often. Do nasal saline rinses when your child can't breathe through the nose.
   • Limit. If under 1 year old, no more than 4 times per day or before every feeding.
   • Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.
   • Saline nose drops can also be made at home. Use ½ teaspoon (2 mL) of table salt. Stir the salt into 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL) of warm water. Use bottled water or boiled water to make saline nose drops.
   • Reason for nose drops: suction or blowing alone can't remove dried or sticky mucus. Also, babies can't nurse or drink from a bottle unless the nose is open.
   • Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.
   • For young children, can also use a wet cotton swab to remove sticky mucus.
7. For Shortness of Breath - Give Smaller Feedings:
   • For trouble breathing, feed more often. Feed every ½ hour.
   • Offer smaller amounts per feeding.
   • Reason: this allows your baby to rest in between feedings.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Trouble swallowing gets worse
   • Signs of dehydration occur
   • Poor drinking lasts more than 3 days
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.