Many new parents think that diarrhea in children is a minor issue, but it actually poses a serious health risk to children. It is important for parents to have a better understanding of this condition and seek timely treatment.
Common Causes of Diarrhea in Children
1. Sudden changes in climate, such as exposure to cold temperatures, can increase intestinal peristalsis. Excessive heat can reduce the secretion of digestive juices, and overfeeding due to thirst can burden the digestive system, all of which can trigger diarrhea in children.
2. The underdeveloped digestive system of infants and young children results in lower secretion of various digestive enzymes and lower digestive capacity. They cannot adapt to significant changes in food quality and quantity. Due to rapid growth and development, they require a relatively large amount of nutrients, which puts a heavy burden on the digestive system and makes them more prone to digestive dysfunction, which can be a cause of diarrhea in children.
3. Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the digestive tract through contaminated food or water, as well as contaminated daily necessities, hands, toys, or carriers of pathogens, leading to diarrhea in children.
4. Intestinal infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes, especially viruses.
5. Human rotavirus is the most common pathogen causing diarrhea in infants and young children in autumn and winter. Norovirus mainly affects children and adults and is less closely related to diarrhea in infants and young children.
Common Consequences of Diarrhea in Children
1. Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies:
If diarrhea lasts for a long time and the fasting period is prolonged or there is insufficient calorie intake, it can lead to malnutrition and various vitamin deficiencies. Digestive disorders and malnutrition can cause a vicious cycle, leading to adverse consequences. Vitamin A deficiency can cause dry eye syndrome and keratomalacia, while vitamin D deficiency can cause convulsions.
2. Infections:
Common infections include otitis media, angular cheilitis, upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, abscesses, sepsis, urinary tract infections, and phlebitis. Various infections can be the cause of diarrhea, but some infections can occur after diarrhea due to a weakened immune system. Prolonged diarrhea or children with pre-existing malnutrition are prone to fungal infections such as thrush and fungal enteritis, and may even lead to systemic fungal diseases.
3. Toxic hepatitis:
Severe diarrhea can lead to jaundice, which is common in malnourished and critically ill septic children. The prognosis is poor, so toxic hepatitis is a serious complication of diarrhea.
How to Relieve Diarrhea in Children
1. Provide proper home care. Parents should carefully observe the nature, color, frequency, and quantity of stools and keep abnormal stool samples for testing to identify the cause of diarrhea. Keep the abdomen warm to reduce intestinal peristalsis. You can wrap the abdomen with a towel or apply a warm water bag. Pay attention to allowing the baby to rest more and clean the buttocks with warm water after defecation to prevent diaper rash. Clean and disinfect the diapers by boiling them and drying them before reuse.
2. Do not withhold food. Regardless of the cause of diarrhea, although the infant's gastrointestinal function is reduced, they can still digest and absorb some nutrients. Breastfed babies should continue breastfeeding as long as they want to eat. For babies who drink cow's milk, the amount of milk can be reduced by about one-third, and some water can be added to the milk. If the reduced amount is not enough for the baby, you can add salted rice soup or feed carrot water and fresh vegetable water to supplement minerals and vitamins. For babies who have already started eating porridge and other complementary foods, the quantity of these foods can be slightly reduced. It is important to provide water to the baby according to their thirst.
3. Avoid excessive use of antibiotics. Many mild cases of diarrhea can resolve without the use of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. Probiotics such as MaMiai and absorbent drugs such as Smecta can lead to quick recovery. Especially for diarrhea caused by viral infections in autumn, the use of antibiotics is not only ineffective but also harmful. Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial dysentery or other bacterial diarrhea, but it must be done under the guidance of a doctor.
4. Prevent dehydration. Oral rehydration salt (ORS) should be continuously given to replenish the water and salt lost due to diarrhea and vomiting to prevent dehydration. ORS contains 3.5g of sodium chloride, 2.5g of sodium bicarbonate, 1.5g of potassium chloride, and 20g of glucose per 1000ml. The dosage should be followed as directed by a doctor. However, the amount and drinking speed for preventing and treating dehydration are different. ORS has a sugar concentration of 2%, which has been proven to be the most effective in facilitating the entry of salt and water into the body to replenish losses during diarrhea. Its effectiveness has been recognized worldwide as an excellent remedy for preventing and treating dehydration caused by diarrhea.
