Diarrhea is one of the common diseases with a high incidence in infancy and childhood, mostly occurring in summer and autumn. Pediatric diarrhea ranks second in China and is the second most common and frequent disease after respiratory infections.
According to the monitoring of pediatric diarrhea disease in China, there are two peaks of incidence each year, one occurs in June, July, August, called summer diarrhea, the main pathogen is bacteria, such as diarrhea-causing Escherichia coli and dysentery bacilli; the other peak occurs in October, November, December, called autumn diarrhea, the main pathogen is a virus, such as rotavirus.
Infants and young children have a poorly developed digestive system, less secretion of various digestive enzymes, lower vitality, poor tolerance of food can not adapt to the food material, the amount of large changes, because of rapid growth and development, the nutrients required relatively more, the digestive tract is heavier, often under stress, easy to occur digestive disorders.
The acidity in the stomach is lower than that of adults, and the antibacterial ability is poor. Immunoglobulin and SIgA in the blood are low, making them susceptible to intestinal infections. The excessive heat in summer reduces the secretion of digestive juices, and the excessive thirst for milk increases the burden on the digestive tract, both of which can easily induce diarrhea.
Most pathogenic microorganisms enter the digestive tract through ingestion of contaminated water or food or through contaminated hands. Infectious diarrhea can be caused when the body’s defense function decreases and a large number of microorganisms infest and produce virulence.
In mild diarrhea, the stools are 5-6 times a day, thin, containing a small amount of mucus and white milk lumps, or egg-flake soup-like, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. In severe dehydration, the child is often accompanied by acidosis, manifested by poor spirit, cherry red lips, deep and fast breathing, as well as shock symptoms such as skin pattern, cold extremities, weak pulse, and little urine.
Once a child has diarrhea, parents should never self-medicate, especially do not abuse antibiotics and antidiarrheal drugs, but send the child to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner.
The general principle for the prevention of pediatric diarrhea is that parents should develop good hygiene habits to prevent their children from getting sick by mouth.
Special attention should be paid to the following measures.
1, strongly advocate breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is strongly advocated from birth to 4 months. Breast milk is nutritious, easily digested and absorbed, and it contains immunoglobulins, which can combine with pathogenic microorganisms to prevent invasion of the intestinal mucosa and have the ability to resist infection and enhance the immunity of infants. In addition, breast milk is almost sterile food, and direct feeding is hygienic and economical.
Therefore, the percentage of diarrhea in breastfed children is much lower than in artificially fed children. Lactating mothers should not eat spicy, spicy, oily, greasy and cold in excess.
2, according to the age of the month to add reasonable complementary food
The principle of adding complementary foods is from less to more, from thin to thick, from fine to coarse, from one to many, so as to meet the nutritional needs of the child while making the child’s stomach and intestines gradually adapt. Avoid weaning children in summer, as the heat can easily affect their gastrointestinal function and cause diarrhea.
3. Pay attention to dietary hygiene
Keep the bottles, tableware and utensils used by infants disinfected regularly and covered when not in use to keep them clean and hygienic; keep the food for children fresh, as food is easily spoiled in summer, it is best to give children a meal to do a meal, and do not store food for too long to give them food; do not give infants plain water that has been placed for more than 24 hours, and juice should be made ready to eat. Give children to drink drinks to buy in regular stores.
4, pay attention to hand hygiene in life
Both adults and children should pay full attention to hand hygiene. Parents must wash their hands before feeding their children, and wash their hands regularly to keep their children’s hands hygienic.
5, parents should not chew rice to feed their children
Avoid using your own mouth to test the temperature of the food, never chew rice for the child, mouth-to-mouth feeding of children, which is easy to infect the child with bacteria.
6, diarrhea epidemic should pay more attention
During the diarrheal disease epidemic season, try to contact less other children, take children to public places less often, and be sure not to contact children suffering from diarrhea. To refuse children with diarrhea to visit their homes, and do not take children to visit the homes of children with diarrhea.
7. Proper disposal of infant and toddler feces
The feces of infants and children with diarrhea should be disposed of promptly, thoroughly and cleanly to interrupt the path of reinfection.