Food poisoning can also strike children. This occurs a few hours after consumption of contaminated food. Most cases of food poisoning resolve after one to two days. Here is a guide on food poisoning treatment to help parents remedy this illness.

Identify The Symptoms

First of all, you need to assess the symptoms of food poisoning. These include vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, queasiness, stomach pains or cramps and lethargy. It is important that you do this to ensure immediate medical attention is not required.

Maintain Good Hydration

Encourage your toddler to drink plenty of liquids. This will help replenish the lost fluids and electrolytes in the body preventing dehydration and wash out toxins from the body. You may let him take smalls sips of water, tea, ginger ale, apple juice, broth or an electrolyte oral solution such as Equalyte or Pedialyte (as long as your pediatrician recommends it) frequently throughout the day. However, avoid offering carbonated and sugary drinks such as soda and fruit juice as this may aggravate your toddler’s condition.

Monitor The Fever

If your toddler’s temperature is over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, you may give him over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen (e.g. Tylenol or Motrin). Make sure you read the label or ask your doctor for the proper dosage. If your toddler does not get better after taking the medication or his temperature rises to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, go to your pediatrician immediately.

Keep Your Toddler Comfortable

If your little one is vomiting, have him lie down on his side to minimize the risk of aspiration (accidental inhalation of vomit into the lungs). Keep his area at a room temperature. Extreme cold and heat can worsen the symptoms.

It is also important that you limit or remove distractions. Keep the TV volume down, avoid entertaining visitors for now, do not let him play vigorous activities or anything that can stress your toddler out. Encourage your toddler to read or play quiet games (e.g. jigsaw puzzles, stacking blocks, drawing, etc.) in bed. Play soothing music. This will allow your little one to relax without getting bored.

Monitor Your Toddler’s Diet

Since your toddler’s digestive system will still be weak and sensitive from the symptoms, do not give him solid foods for at least 24 hours. Stick to soft foods or the BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Once the symptoms have stopped, you may slowly introduce solid foods again. Serve small portions of food that are mild on the stomach such as cereal, crackers, skinless chicken breast and light soups. Stay away from acidic, dairy, fatty, greasy, spicy and sweet foods for 3 to 7 days.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Make sure your toddler gets complete bed rest for 24 hours or until the symptoms are gone. Adequate rest enables the body to deflect energy to the problem and to recuperate from the stress and energy necessary to fight against the infection.

Food poisoning normally goes away in a few days. But, if food poisoning last longer than five days or your toddler shows signs of dizziness, dehydration, discolored hands and feet and decreased urination, see your doctor. Your toddler might have to be hospitalized for a few days to receive IV rehydration.