Stomach Bug In Elderly

[Scarlett]

My mum has had a stomach bug since Friday - this is the 6th day. I thought she was getting better but today she had huge sickness and diarrhoea accident. She's 78 and traveling in her camper van far from home. The local doc gave her dehydration tablets. I'm worried as it's been several days and I know that dehydration can be very dangerous. What else can my dad do otherwise try and make her drink water? When should she go to hospital?

[Buenchico]

Start here:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gastroenteritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[Sqad]

Six days of D&V in an elderly person is indeed worrying and you are correct, severe dehydration can be serious.
The GP has given her dehydration tablets ( electrolytes) and you Dad should be giving her at least 4 glasses of water every 4 hours.
Continue this regime throughout the night and if there is no improvement by the morning, then take her to A&E.
Warning signs....nip the skin of her arm and if it doesn't retract (goes back into place) then that is a sign of mild to sever dehydration. Check her urine and if she is passing small amounts of dark urine that is another serious sign.

[Flonska]

Without wishing to alarm you, one impact of the condition may be to affect her kidney function and this may be potentially serious. After this length of time, if this were my mum, I would take her to A&E without delay. Hope this is helpful and I do hope she gets well soon.

[Scarlett]

Thank you for your very helpful replies; I was worried and although I think she should have gone in earlier, she did go to hospital the next day and they kept her in for several days. Turns out she actually had pneumonia which I would not have guessed from her symptoms. Just goes to show- always err on the side of caution!

[Flonska]

So glad you got her in to hospital a.s.a.p.

Hope the treatment is successful and she makes a good recovery.