Barbara: A "gastrointestinal virus" is nickname doctors frequently use for diarrhea (even when the infant only has vomits, but hey expect diarrhea will come soon). Really, the treatment this doctor has suggested for it (out of milk, including breastmilk, and P-lyte for 48 hours) is completelly outdated. Witholding food during diarrhea was advised a century ago, with the idea "nothing in, nothing out." Now we know it is wrong, and anyway it doesn't matter. It is wrong because fasting actually makes diarrhea worse. Cells in the gut mucosa live only a few days; they die still more quickly during diarrhea; lack of a constant intake of energy and proteins means mucosa is destroyed, nutrient absorption diminished and fluid losses increased. It doesn't matter because the therapeuthic goal is not to diminish the number of bowel movements (and they diminish with feeding, that's proved); but to prevent dehydration (with adequate fluids) and malnutrition (with enough food). Current guidelines for diarrhea treatment are: - breastfeeding should never be stoped, not even for a few hours. Vomiting is not a contraindication. - formula can also ber continued in bottlefed babies; if diarrhea is important, some authors advise to change to a low-lactose formula (lactose in breast milk is not a problem) - Solid foods should be continued (after oral rehydration, in needed), any kind of solid food the baby (or the adult) is used to. Choose any food that the patient really likes (their appetite is diminished) and offer frequently. There is no need for a special diet (like rice and carrots in Spain; I am interested in usual "diarrhea" diets in other countries, please email privately) - If diarrhea is important, offer oral rehydration solution after breast Suggested reading: Chung AW. The effect of oral feeding at different levels on the absorption of foodstuffs in infantile diarrhea J Pediatr 1948;33:1-13 (yes, 1948!) Chung AW, Viscorova B. The effect of early oral feeding versus early oral starvation on the course of infantile diarrhea. J Pediatr 1948;33:14-22 Almroth S, Latham MC. Rational home management of diarrhoea. Lancet 1995;345:709-711 Brown KH, Gastanaduy AS, Saavedra JM, Lembcke J, Rivas D, Robertson AD, Yolken R, Sack RB. Effect of continued oral feeding on clinical and nutritional outcomes of acute diarrhea in children. J Pediatr 1988;112:191-200 Margolis PA, Litteer T, Hare N, Pichichero M. Effects of unrestricted diet on mild infantile diarrhea. A practice-based study. Am J Dis Child 1990;144:162-164 Bennish ML, Azad AK, Rahman O, Phillips RE. Hypoglycemia during diarrhea in childhood. Prevalence, pathophysiology and outcome. N engl J Med 1990;322:1357-1363 (fasting and hypoglycemia as a cause of death in diarrhea!) Brown KH. Dietary management of acute childhood diarrhea: Optimal timing of feeding and appropriate use of milks and mixed diets. J Pediatr 1991;118:S92-S98 Khin-Maung-U, Nyunt-Nyiunt-Wai, Myo-Khin, Mu-Mu-Khin, Tin-U, Thane-Toe. Effect on clinical outcome of breast feeding during acute diarrhoea. Br Med J 1985;290:587-589 McDowell HP, Evans-Jones G. Is gradual reintroduction of milk feeds in gastroenteritis necessary? Lancet 1985;i:690 Brown KH, Peerson JM, Fontaine O. Use of nonhuman milks in the dietary management of young children with acute diarrhea: A meta-analisis of clinical trials. Pediatrics 1994;93:17-27 Chew F, Penna FJ, Peret Filho LA, Quqn C, Lopes MC, Mota JAC, Fontaine O. Is dilution of cows' milk formula necessary for dietary management of acute diarrhoea in infants aged less than 6 months? Lancet 1993;341:194-197 Sarker SA, Molla AM, Rahaman MM. Impact of supplementary food on intake of breast milk in diarrhoea. Lancet 1983;ii:1349-1351 Lanata CF, Black RE, Creed-Kanashiro H, Lazo F, Gallardo ML, Verastegui H, Brown KH. Feeding during acute diarrhea as a risk factor for persistent diarrhea. Acta Pediatr 1992;(suppl 381):98-103 Brown KH. Dietary management of acute diarrheal disease: Contemporary scientific issues. J Nut 1994;124:1455S-1460S