What to do if your child has diarrhea

Pediatric diarrhea is a disease caused by multiple pathogens and factors characterized by increased stool frequency and changes in stool properties. Pediatric diarrhea mostly occurs in infants and young children under the age of 3 years, 6 months to 2 years of age with a high incidence, is one of the main causes of pediatric malnutrition, growth and development disorders. 1, allergic diarrhea: the most common is milk protein allergy, breastfed babies may be allergic to the proteins in breast milk; formula-fed babies may be allergic to milk-based formula. Also, wheat and soy are the most allergenic foods, second only to cow’s milk. If you suspect that your child has allergic diarrhea, the first step is to rule out the most common allergen, “cow’s milk products,” and breastfeeding mothers can suspend breastfeeding. For toddlers and older children, it is best not to eat milk, yogurt and cheese. Infectious diarrhea: Many bacteria and viruses can cause diarrhea, usually accompanied by fever and vomiting. Viral diarrhea should be treated symptomatically, and systemic bacterial infections and diarrhea caused by invasive bacterial infections should be treated with systemic anti-infective therapy. General watery stools can not use antibiotics, mucus stools, pus and blood stools can choose antibiotics, with a full course of treatment, can not be discontinued without the consent of the doctor. (3) Home treatment: (1) Probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the intestinal tract and help keep the digestive system healthy. Oral probiotics can restore the micro-ecological balance of human intestinal tract and achieve the purpose of treating intestinal diseases. (2) Dietary treatment: mild breastfeeding infants can continue to breastfeed, appropriately limiting the number of breastfeeding or shortening the duration of each breastfeeding, and suspending complementary foods; artificially fed children can be fed with an equal amount of rice broth or diluted milk or other milk substitutes, and gradually overloaded with rice broth, congee and noodles to a normal diet. For lactose intolerant children, add lactase enzyme when feeding, or be de-lactose diet. Allergic diarrhea, consider protein allergy, can be changed to hydrolyzed milk powder or amino acid milk powder. During the period of diarrhea, eat light and easy to digest, as far as possible, do not “fasting”, fasting can lead to delayed symptoms, nutrition loss. (3) Prevention of dehydration: diarrhea leads to a large amount of water and electrolyte loss in the body. Therefore, as soon as diarrhea begins, the child should be given enough fluids orally and continue to feed the child, especially breastfed babies, to prevent dehydration. The following methods can be used: ①Oral rehydration salts (ORS): after each diarrhea, 50~100 ml by mouth for children under 2 years old, 100~200 ml by mouth for children between 2 and 10 years old, and as much as you can drink for those older than 10 years old. Can also be 40~60ml/kg, the beginning of diarrhea that is taken. ② rice soup with salt solution: 500ml of rice soup + fine salt 1.75g or 25g of fried rice flour + fine salt 1.75g + 500ml of water boiled for 2~3 minutes. The dosage is 20~40ml/kg, finished in 4 hours, and then orally at any time, give as much as you can drink. (3) Sugar salt water: 500ml of plain water + 10g of sucrose + 1.75g of fine salt, the dosage is the same as rice soup with salt solution. (4) Zinc supplementation therapy: WHO recommends that children with diarrhea continue to take oral rehydration salts while taking oral zinc supplementation, which can enhance immune function and prevent recurrence.