Yes, water is okay for the stomach flu and essential for hydration, but it's best to sip small amounts frequently, especially if vomiting, and ideally combine it with electrolytes from broths, oral rehydration solutions (like Pedialyte), or diluted sports drinks to replace lost salts, as plain water alone might not be enough. Avoid sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol, as they can worsen symptoms, and start with bland foods like crackers, bananas, and toast as you feel better.
Offer fluids.
Don't use only water or only apple juice. Drinking fluids too quickly can worsen the nausea and vomiting, so try to give small frequent sips over a couple of hours, instead of drinking a large amount at once. Try using a water dropper of rehydration solution instead of a bottle or cup.
Drink More Water. The body uses water in the digestion of food. Being dehydrated can inhibit this process and cause nausea and cramping. Be sure to stay hydrated by consuming water throughout the day, and up your intake if you have an upset stomach and suspect that dehydration may be the cause.
How Is Stomach Flu Treated? There's no specific treatment for stomach flu from viruses, and most kids and teens can be treated at home. Keep your child hydrated by offering plenty of liquids. Kids with more severe dehydration may need treatment in the ER or hospital.
What to drink when you have the stomach flu
When you have viral gastroenteritis, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. You may vomit after you eat or lose your appetite for a short time.
To help keep yourself more comfortable and prevent dehydration while you recover, try the following: Let your stomach settle. Stop eating solid foods for a few hours. Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water often.
In a plastic bucket, mix 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach in a gallon of water. This solution is great at killing norovirus, but becomes less potent if it is exposed to a lot of organic matter (such as vomit or stool).
The Worst Foods for Your Gastrointestinal System
A stomach flu usually lasts between one and three days. Vomiting typically lasts for less than 24 hours. However, if your child's symptoms continue for more than 5 days, you should call your pediatrician.
Should I keep drinking water if I throw it up? Yes. Vomiting can cause your body to become dehydrated very quickly, so it's important to keep up your water intake as much as possible. Your body absorbs water better through these solutions because they contain salts and glucose.
Certain foods make an upset stomach worse
There are five reasons why people may believe soda can be helpful for gastroenteritis: Hydration: Sodas such as Sprite can replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea. To avoid consuming too much sugar, people can dilute Sprite with water. Mild flavor: Intense flavors can worsen nausea.
People who have norovirus are still contagious for 48 to 72 hours after recovering. You should limit certain activities, but you may be able to resume others. To reduce your risk of spreading the stomach bug to others: Avoid preparing and serving food.
These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea: Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. Water is best. Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement.
Drink lots of fluids if possible, but start slowly with 1–2 sips every 5 minutes. If you become nauseated, wait 20–30 minutes and then begin again. Wait 20–30 minutes to be sure you don't have more vomiting or diarrhea.
Here, we break down the seven worst drinks for gut health and offer easy swaps that support better digestion and balance.
The 7 Day Gut Reset is a clean-eating and lifestyle-based plan designed to: Eliminate common gut disruptors. Introduce healing, nourishing foods. Support your digestive system with hydration and rest. Improve the diversity of your gut bacteria.
Some foods that can help manage IBS flare-ups include:
While you have a stomach bug, you should be lying or sitting down as much as possible. Take it easy and give your body time to rest.
Bacterial and viral infections have similar symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but a stool test may distinguish between them.
If a lot of patients or staff are affected by norovirus, we may close the ward to new admissions (and possibly visitors) to prevent the disease from spreading further. We will keep you fully informed if this step needs to be taken.
Also avoid anything too high in sugar, such as soda, juices or sports drinks, as these might make the diarrhea worse. Water will prevent dehydration but doesn't replace any of the salts or sugars that your child may be losing.
The stages of stomach flu infection are:
Broth-based soups, such as chicken noodle, vegetable soup, or miso soup, are excellent options for replenishing fluids and electrolytes when recovering from gastroenteritis. Avoid creamy, high-fat and spicy soups, which can further irritate the stomach and hinder healing from gastroenteritis.