The mother or other family members can treat the child at home through rehydration and food supplementation. The New Guidelines for the Management of Diarrhea, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), provide “four principles” for home treatment of diarrhea, which are, in brief, rehydration, zinc supplementation, continuous feeding of the child, and timely transport of the child to a health facility. The four principles are, in brief, rehydration, zinc supplementation, continuous feeding of the child, and timely transport of the child to a health facility if the condition does not improve.
First, give the child more fluids than usual
If available at home, parents should give the child oral rehydration salts because it not only treats dehydration but also prevents the onset of dehydration in children with diarrhea. If not available, parents should give the child the recommended home or food-based fluids, such as thin gruel, soup or rice broth water. If the child is breastfed, breastfeeding should be continued, and the frequency and duration of single feedings should be increased.
Infants or children who are mixed-fed should be given oral rehydration salts or other clean drinking water supplements on top of breastfeeding. Non-breastfed (artificially fed) infants should be given one or more of the following supplements: oral rehydration salts; food-based rehydration such as soup, rice broth water and sour milk drinks, or clean drinking water. Parents are advised not to give the following fluids to their infants with diarrhea: soft drinks, sweetened tea, sweetened fruit juices, coffee, some local medicinal teas or infusions.
How much fluid to give? For children under two years of age, give about 50 to 100 ml (one-quarter of a large cup) of fluid after each loose stool; for older children, give a large cup or one-half of an amount; older children or adults should drink the amount they wish to drink.
Oral rehydration salts and other recommended home remedy supplemental fluids should be continued until the diarrhea stops, probably over a longer period of time.
II. Zinc supplementation
Zinc supplementation helps to shorten the duration and reduce the severity of diarrhea, strengthens the child’s immune system and helps the child to resist new recurrences for two to three months after cure, improves the child’s appetite, and facilitates the child’s growth. Zinc supplementation should be given at the beginning of the diarrhea, 10 mg of elemental zinc daily for children under six months and 20 mg of elemental zinc daily for ten to fourteen days for children six months and older.
Third, continuous feeding
If a child with diarrhea is continuously hungry, it will lead to malnutrition or worsen the condition. Parents should insist on continuous feeding of the child in the belief that it will help to reduce the diarrhea and that a strong child is better able to resist the disease. Take care to give the affected child frequent nutritious food supplements after the onset and cessation of diarrhea because, according to studies, most nutrients can be absorbed despite the body’s reduced ability to absorb them during diarrhea. It is important to note that rehydration is not a substitute for continuous food supplementation.
For breastfed children, increase the frequency of feedings and extend the duration of each feeding. For children over six months of age, feed foods that are relatively high in nutrients and energy, either a mixture of cereal and locally available legumes, or a mixture of cereal and meat or fish, depending on the age of the child. Add cooking oil to make the food energy-rich. Dairy products and eggs are also suitable as nutritional supplements. Fresh fruit juices and banana leaves are beneficial because they are rich in potassium.
Not recommended to consume.
1. Foods rich in fiber and larger volume
such as coarse vegetables and fruits, vegetable and fruit peels and whole grains, which are not easily digestible.
2, light soups
They are recommended as liquid supplements, but are not nutritious foods, as they may make the child feel full but do not provide adequate nutrition.
3. foods with high sugar content
These can make diarrhea worse.
When preparing food, it should be cooked, well ground and mashed, which makes it easy to digest and gives fresh food to reduce food contamination. If it is pre-prepared, it should be reheated to a boil before consumption.
Encourage the child to eat as much as possible. Allow the child to eat once every three to four hours (about six times a day) or more frequently for younger children. Smaller and more frequent meals are best because they are easier to digest and more acceptable to the child.
When the diarrhea stops, the child is given an additional meal once a day for a week. This increased diet helps the child to regain the weight lost during the disease. Some children even need longer periods of additional meals to regain their pre-morbid weight or a relatively high normal weight.
Fourth, when to visit the hospital
If the child is excreting extremely large amounts (including diarrhea and vomiting), showing signs of dehydration such as severe thirst, sunken eyes, or signs of systemic toxicity such as fever and poor mental health, and if the condition does not show signs of improvement, it indicates that the child needs more treatment than the parents can give in their home treatment care, and should then be treated at a medical institution.
Therefore, parents should bring or take their child back to the doctor immediately for treatment if the child shows the following.
1. excretion of extremely large amounts of feces.
2. abnormal thirst.
3. sunken eyes.
4. no sign of improvement within three days.
5. fever.
6, abnormal diet.
7.Mental depression.