Pros and Cons of Zofran for Kids With Stomach Flu

Being a parent is one of life’s greatest joys! However, when your little one is sick, it can make parenting a nightmare. It is hard watching your children suffer, when there is not a whole lot that you can do for them. Illnesses must run their course, but there are things that you can do to help ease your kiddo’s symptoms.  I get quite a few questions about Zofran due to my popular 7 handy hacks for stomach bugs article. Here are some pros and cons to using Zofran for kids with stomach flu.

Pros and Cons of using Zofran for kids with stomach flu

Con – Not Recommended by AAP

Vomiting will almost always stop on it’s own, so the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that you allow medications that stop vomiting. While ultimately, you, as a parent and your child’s pediatrician, know what is best for your children, the AAP has a great set of guidelines to consider when it comes to your child’s health.

Pro – Prevents Dehydration

Zofran is designed to stop vomiting from occurring, which is great news if your little one cannot seem to hold anything down. The more your child vomits, the more likely they will be to end up in the hospital, due to dehydration. It is bad enough to be down with the flu, but dehydration can make the illness dangerous. My son was prescribed Zofran for this reason. Though I gave him small amounts of fluid all throughout his worst bout with the stomach flu, he could not keep any of it down. Not only was he prescribed Zofran, he also had to be re-hydrated intravenously.

Con – Costly

Zofran in original form can be a little costly, for a single tablet, compared to just letting the illness run its course, or a bottle of over the counter medication. If your child is not becoming dehydrated, it may be best to wait it out before dropping any unnecessary money.

Pro – Your Child Will Rest Easier once Zofran stops the vomitting

It is no secret that constant vomiting will disrupt much needed sleep when ill. If your child is given Zofran, when hit with the stomach flu, not only will they be more comfortable, but they will be able to rest easier, and possibly sleep more. This is a positive, because proper rest will help your little one gain more strength, in order to start feeling better. It will also allow the rest of the family to get more rest. Staying up through the night caring for a sick child puts Mom at a greater risk for catching the illness. Lack of sleep weakens her immune system which isn’t good when she is the one cleaning up the mess. 

In the end, make an informed decision before giving your child a medicine like Zofran.

There are several pros and cons of using Zofran with the stomach flu. Your child may experience more comfort, instead of trying to ride the stomach flu out on their own. Zofran can bring a sense of comfort that nothing else can bring. At the end of the day, talk to your doctor to discuss what is best for your child. Between you, your doctor, and these pros & cons, you will be able to decide if Zofran is right for your child, while battling the stomach bug.

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