Top Tips To Fight That Nasty Tummy Bug

Find out how to fight the tummy bug when it hits and how to ensure the whole family doesn’t fall ill as well.

My youngest was unfortunate enough to pick up a tummy bug on his last week of school holidays. He spent a few days feeling quite unwell and very unhappy that it had ruined all his holiday plans.

We asked the wise mums and dads on Facebook what they recommend to help fight off the bugs when they hit.

One of the top tips was drinking red cordial. I have never heard that before! Must remember this for next time.

Your tips for fighting gastro

Other advice included, keep everyone washing hands, clean everything with Dettol/Pinoclean, Glen 20 and/or Eucalyptus Spray.

Strip bedding and dry all used linens/clothes in sunlight.
Drinking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with water.
Hydralyte or if they cannot tolerate hydralyte, drinks watered down. Fruit box juices can also help.
Consider the BRAT method when someone is ready to try food – Banana (if they can eat it), Rice, Apple sauce, Toast.
One of our members shared that her great aunt swore by coke for gastro… “as soon as one starts I drink coke and give the patient a little at a time….. she said it can clean a dirty toilet it can clean a dirty tummy lol”
GRAPE JUICE. Have everyone drink grape juice. “It does something to the pH in the gut or something.”

And yet another recommendation for red cordial – “Red drinks help to stop you getting sick. Have 600ml minimum no later than when you feel that yucky tummy. It is what doctors recommend for Bali belly. I personally find raspberry lemonade works better than cordial.”

* Of course, these suggestions are not from professional health specialists and we recommend you seek medical help if symptoms persist.

Share your tips below.

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19 Comments

- - happymum2018 said
  - 02 Jul 2019
    6:36 pm
Keep hydrated and try to eat good food even while being sick keep up the energy levels even if you have to give your child a few glycojel jelly beans

- - Blossom said
  - 18 Sep 2018
    11:27 pm
If there is vomiting your body loses all its natural salt. My Grandma stuck to an old method. Glucose Powder with a very small amount of salt diluted in warm water then cooled……or the salt was included in the powder ……I’m not sure……..too long ago.

- - mom68673 said
  - 27 Aug 2018
    2:11 pm
Start with the BRAT diet and heaps of Hydrolyte. And plenty of bed rest.
Always works for us.

- - Cazz70 said
  - 02 Jul 2018
    6:11 pm
A study was done at Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga NSW many years ago and it found Cottees Rasberry Cordial was great for the gastro bug. I’ve used it myself and it works.

- - mom93821 said
  - 01 Jul 2018
    12:32 pm
Clean everything spotlessly and introduce little bits of dry toast and little sips of flat lemonade.
- Cazz70 replied
  
  02 Jul 2018 , 6:13 pm
  Studies found that flat lemonade is a huge no no when it comes to gastro. The sucrose activates the bowl causing the body to lose more fluids.
- - mom111059 said
  - 30 Jun 2018
    8:10 pm
Be careful of apple cider vinegar as it affects the teeth. Best to drink out of a straw.

- - kyliecimen said
  - 30 Jun 2018
    7:40 pm
I was brought up to drink flat lemonade and suck on barley sugar. Recently I discovered charcoal tablets and they really work!
- mom93821 replied
  
  02 Jul 2018 , 4:47 am
  Good old flat lemonade – this tip has been handed down to the generations. 🙂
- - mom94125 said
  - 09 Oct 2017
    4:33 pm
it can really scary when they are that sick. just be watchful over them and try to give them ice to suck on to help hydrate them

- - Ellen said
  - 02 Jun 2017
    3:51 am
Apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger tea, bicarb of soda solution, basil (mix equal amounts of basil juice and ginger juice). When really sick I found fresh ginger tea with a bit of Manuka honey the most easy to take.

- - mom101628 said
  - 18 May 2017
    9:27 pm
I was always given [and still use] flat room temperature lemonade. Somehow it seems to stay down when all other fluids won’t, and it also seems to revitalise you [possibly the sugar which I usually never eat].

- - ella12 said
  - 09 May 2017
    12:29 pm
Thank you for sharing these great tips.

- - rovermum said
  - 08 May 2017
    9:49 am
If gastro, we normally provide gastrolite or powerade, something similar to get the sugar and electrolytes back in the body. Unfortunately, you tend to need to ride it out until the bug leaves your system. Then be mindful of what you refill your tummy with.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 06 May 2017
    9:32 am
Red cordial or raspberry lemonaid or Coke!! really. Worth trying

- - musicmum said
  - 06 May 2017
    12:43 am
I think it would depend on the symptoms. Personally I would not use anything that is acidic. Slippery elm is great for soothing the stomach lining. Camomile tea sipped slowly. Stay away from salty foods, especially salted crackers, will aggravate any stomach issues.

- - tessie said
  - 05 May 2017
    1:16 pm
I use red cordial which my grandmother told me about. It seems to work well if started in time.

- - june11 said
  - 03 May 2017
    8:16 pm
I tried slowly sipping red cordial after I couldn’t retain water. It didn’t work at all.
Had I known about it sooner It may or may not have helped. I had to go to hospital at about 7.00pm to be rehydrated during an overnight stay..

- - nealsq said
  - 03 May 2017
    7:10 pm
I spray eucalyptus spray around when anyone is sick at our place, too many people to be sick for weeks on end