Diarrhea in children - Everything About It
Diarrhea Definition:
Passing loose, loose or liquid stools several times a day.
Symptoms:
- An increase in the number of defecations.
- Sometimes a high temperature.
- loss of appetite
- feeling sick
- vomiting.
- cramps and cramps
- Excretion of stool mixed with blood.
When should you see a doctor? :
- When an infant less than six months old is infected.
- When stool color changes to black or stool mixed with blood.
- frequent vomiting
- A fever of 38 or more.
- The appearance of symptoms of dehydration on the child (_ lack of urination, lack of tears while crying, dry skin, mouth and tongue, headache).
- The eyes are sunken and the skin color changes to gray.
Causes:
Some types of antibiotics, sensitivity to certain foods, cause germs such as viruses such as rotavirus, hepatitis A or bacteria such as E. coli and other bacteria or parasites that cause diarrhea in children. It is easy to transmit these germs from one person to another Especially children.
Prevention:
- Teach the child to wash his hands well with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating.
- Accustom the child to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.
- Not eating open foods or eating outside the home.
- Take appropriate vaccinations such as (viral hepatitis, rotavirus) when traveling to endemic places or recurring cases of diarrhea throughout the year.
Treatment:
In cases of simple and moderate diarrhea, the child can be treated at home without the need to go to the hospital by following that:
- Give the child fluids to prevent dehydration, such as rehydration solution, apple juice diluted with water.
- Avoid giving the child milk, foods rich in fiber, sugars, or fatty foods rich in fats, as they worsen the condition.
- As for the infant who is breastfed, the mother continues to breastfeed him even during diarrhea. As for the infant who is breastfed with formula, he is given lactose-free milk.
- For a child who eats and does not depend on milk only, he is given liquids such as apple juice and other juices for 24 hours, then he is given light meals such as bananas, boiled apples, potatoes, and boiled or jelly rice.
- For a child with severe diarrhea or a high temperature, or a newborn child, he must go to the hospital to give him fluids intravenously.
Stay Healthy...
