Diarrhea in a child: why and what to do?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Diarrhea in a child is a cause of great concern for parents. What is it: poisoning, infection, too fatty milk? Young children can not explain why they cry, so parents should become researchers to understand the causes of the baby's illness.
What is childhood diarrhea?
Diarrhea, that is, in the common people diarrhea, is considered a symptom of diseases that are life-threatening. Diarrhea itself is not dangerous, but the infections that cause it, as well as dehydration of the child's body, caused by a frequent stool, are dangerous. After all, diarrhea is a frequent stool.
Exercises of a child are usually of different texture, color and smell. All this depends on what the child eats (breast milk, its substitute or solid food). A child's chair is usually softer and more watery than an adult's bowel movements. A very soft chair for a child is not uncommon. However, if the bowel movements suddenly become much more frequent and more watery, it can be diarrhea.
Causes of pediatric diarrhea
Pediatric diarrhea can be caused by many things, from changes in the diet, ending with intestinal infection. Any of the following diseases can cause diarrhea in children.
- Infection caused by the virus, bacteria or parasites. Children can be attacked by bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhea, through contact with contaminated food or water. Or, if the child played on the contaminated surface and then. As usual, he put his hands in his mouth.
- Food allergy or susceptibility to drugs
- Excessive consumption of fruit juices
- Poisoning
[What is the danger of childhood diarrhea?
Diarrhea can change the normal balance of water and salts (electrolytes). When a child has lost too much water and electrolytes due to diarrhea, this can lead the body to dehydration. Dehydration in children can occur very quickly - a day or two after the onset of diarrhea - and this can be very dangerous, especially for newborns.
Pay attention to these signs of dehydration of your child
- Urination is less common than usual (less wet diapers)
- Irritability
- Dry mouth
- No tears during crying
- Unusual drowsiness or lethargy
- The sunken "fontanel" on the top of the child's head
- The skin is not as elastic as usual (it does not come back if you slightly pinch and release)
Call a doctor immediately if you notice at least one of the signs of dehydration listed above. In addition, call your doctor if your child has diarrhea and up to 6 months of age, he is supplemented by the following symptoms:
- Fever with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher
- Abdominal pain
- Blood or pus in stools or black, white or red stools
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
Who to contact?
Treatment of diarrhea in a child
Doctors usually do not recommend parents themselves to treat young children from diarrhea. The reasons can be different, and those funds that the parent himself gives to the child can not help, but even do harm, because time is working against. When visiting a clinic, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to eliminate bacterial infection or an antiparasitic drug.
Children with severe diarrhea, dehydration sometimes require intravenous infusions in the hospital.
The doctor can recommend a solution for oral rehydration (RPR) to the child. This will help replenish the balance of fluid and electrolytes in the body and prevent dehydration.
If your child has already been transferred to solid foods, the doctor may recommend switching to soft, starchy foods, such as bananas, apple puree and rice flakes or porridge until diarrhea stops. Mothers who breastfeed may need to adjust their own diet, excluding any foods that can cause diarrhea in the baby.
Children with diarrhea who already eat solid foods should avoid eating anything that can aggravate diarrhea, including:
- Fatty foods
- High fiber foods
- Dairy products such as milk and cheese
- Sweets such as cakes, cakes and soda
Diarrhea in a child caused by a viral or bacterial infection is very contagious. Wash your hands with warm water and soap every time you change your baby's diapers to prevent the spread of infection. Keep the fresh diapers in a special clean place and disinfect the place.
Diarrhea in the child - an occasion for anxiety. Therefore do not hesitate at this symptom and necessarily address in hospital.
Prevention of diarrhea
Frequent hand washing for an adult is very important to prevent diarrhea in a child. It is especially important to wash your hands before and after eating, after changing diapers and after going to the toilet. Be clean. Keep the bathroom, room and kitchen clean and thoroughly wash the foods that you give to the baby.