Summer is a high incidence period for diarrhea, especially in children. It is often caused by overeating cold drinks and poor hygiene. Parents may casually give their children some anti-diarrheal drugs. However, for children, the following 5 types of anti-diarrheal drugs should be used with caution.
Fluoroquinolone (Norfloxacin): It has good therapeutic effects on gastroenteritis and bacterial dysentery caused by pathogenic and toxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, etc., and is widely used clinically and well-known to people. However, this drug and its similar drugs (quinolone drugs) may cause bone lesions, so it is not suitable for children under 12 years old.
Loperamide: It is suitable for the treatment of acute and chronic diarrhea caused by various causes. However, its effect is strong and it can cause adverse reactions in young children, such as affecting the central nervous system. In addition, there have been reports of deaths in newborns caused by the use of this drug. Therefore, it is restricted for use in young children both domestically and internationally. For example, the instructions for the use of loperamide in China specify that it is prohibited for children under 5 years old.
Phenolphthalein Compound (Compound Phenylbutazone): It is suitable for the treatment of acute and chronic functional diarrhea and chronic enteritis. Each tablet of this drug contains 2.5 mg of phenolphthalein hydrochloride and 0.025 mg of atropine sulfate. The phenolphthalein compound has a similar effect on the intestines as morphine, and can directly act on the smooth muscles of the intestines, with a strong effect. Due to continuous reports of poisoning and even death in children caused by the use of this drug at home and abroad (death cases mainly occurred in infants and young children under 2 years old), and because there is still no unified standard for the dosage of this drug in children, it is prohibited for infants and young children under 2 years old, and caution should be exercised in children over 2 years old (strict control of dosage).
Tetracycline: It has a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect and has certain therapeutic effects on infectious diarrhea. However, the use of tetracycline and similar drugs such as oxytetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline in children under 8 years old can cause permanent tooth infection, enamel hypoplasia, and bone growth inhibition. Therefore, children under 8 years old should avoid using such drugs.
Activated Charcoal: It can adsorb a variety of toxic and non-toxic irritants that cause diarrhea and abdominal discomfort, reduce irritation to the intestinal wall, and reduce peristalsis, thereby achieving an anti-diarrheal effect. However, due to the strong adsorption of this drug and its lack of selectivity, it affects the growth activity of digestive enzymes such as gastric protease and pancreatic enzymes. Long-term use can lead to malnutrition in children. Therefore, children under 3 years old with diarrhea or abdominal distension should not use it for long-term.
