Because prolonged and chronic diarrhoea is often associated with malnutrition and other complications, the condition is complex and requires comprehensive treatment measures. The causes of prolonged diarrhoea are actively sought out and treated, avoiding the misuse of antibiotics and stubborn intestinal flora imbalances. Prevent and treat dehydration and correct electrolyte and acid-base balance disorders.
Feeding is necessary to promote the repair of intestinal mucosal damage, the recovery of pancreatic function and the production of biosaccharidase in microvillous epithelial cells, and thus the restoration of health.
Adjustment of diet: breastfeeding should be continued as far as possible. If the complication is severe lactose intolerance, i.e. diarrhoea persists without relief under breastfeeding, it is recommended to suspend breastfeeding and replace it with special lactose-free formula, and return to breastfeeding when the diarrhoea recovers. Children fed artificially should adjust their diet to ensure adequate calories.
Diarrhoea can be exacerbated by the consumption of diets containing disaccharides (including lactose sucrose and maltose) in children with disaccharide intolerance, of which lactose intolerance is the most common. Attention should be paid to reducing the disaccharide load in the diet during treatment, for example by using lactose free milk substitutes or de-lactose formula.
Treatment of allergic diarrhoea: If diarrhoea does not improve after the application of a disaccharide-free diet, the possibility of food allergy (e.g. allergy to milk) should be considered and allergic foods should be avoided, or a free amino acid or hydrolysed protein formula diet may be used.
Intravenous nutrition: A small number of children who cannot tolerate oral nutrients may be given intravenous hyper-nutrition. Switch to oral after improvement.