The peak season for diarrhea in autumn and winter is from November to December, with children aged 6 months to 5 years being more susceptible. It has been observed that many parents have the misconception of blindly restricting food for children with diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and endanger the child's life. It is important to remind parents that children with diarrhea in winter should not be restricted from eating and should be promptly supplemented with nutrition to prevent dehydration.
More than 80% of winter diarrhea is caused by rotavirus. After an incubation period of 1-3 days, infants and young children infected with rotavirus will start to show symptoms. Early symptoms include vomiting and fever, usually between 38°C to 39°C, followed by diarrhea, with approximately 10 bowel movements per day. The stools may be watery or have an egg drop soup-like consistency. Due to the excessive loss of water, dehydration can occur rapidly, resulting in symptoms such as lethargy, pale complexion, sunken eyes, skin that doesn't immediately flatten after being pinched, and decreased urine output. If not corrected in a timely manner, it can lead to death. It is important to remind parents that once they notice symptoms of diarrhea in their child, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. They should not administer antibiotics to the child without medical advice, as it may worsen the condition.
To prevent autumn and winter diarrhea, in addition to keeping children's utensils clean and washing hands with running water, it is also advisable to reduce or avoid consumption of raw and cold foods, and avoid foods high in fat.
Currently, oral rehydration therapy at home is highly recommended for preventing dehydration in children with diarrhea, with an effectiveness rate of over 96%. The specific method is as follows: boil 500ml of rice soup + 10g of white sugar + 1.75g of table salt (about half of a beer bottle cap) for 2-3 minutes. Make it into an oral rehydration solution and have the child drink it from the onset of diarrhea. For children under two years old, 50-100ml can be supplemented after each episode of diarrhea, with a daily intake of no less than 500ml. For children over two years old, encourage them to drink more to prevent dehydration. If the condition is severe and accompanied by dehydration, seek medical attention promptly. After the child's nutrition improves, gradually reintroduce food, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing, from thin to thick. Avoid rushing the process.
