Gastroenteritis is mainly caused by a virus called "Norovirus" and is accompanied by bacterial infection. Gastroenteritis, also known as "viral gastroenteritis" in medicine, is characterized by symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. There may be multiple bowel movements in a day, accompanied by a feeling of fatigue. Severe cases can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and immune system damage. Treating gastroenteritis with anti-diarrheal medications will not alleviate the symptoms. In addition to the common symptoms of a cold, today we will discuss the methods for treating children's gastroenteritis. What are some dietary remedies for children with gastroenteritis? What are the dietary taboos for children with gastroenteritis?
What to do for children with gastroenteritis
1. Home care is important for gastroenteritis. Mothers should pay attention to maintaining fresh air indoors and adjust the child's clothing according to weather changes.
2. During the fever period, give the child plenty of water to drink and provide easily digestible foods with mild flavors. Avoid spicy, cold, greasy, and fried foods.
3. If the child has a yellow coating on the tongue and a sour odor in their mouth, it indicates excessive heat in the body. Mothers should control oily foods and give the child digestive pills or hawthorn pills to clear the heat and promote digestion.
4. If the child vomits, do not panic. Let the child lie on their side, or for larger children, let them lie face down. This position facilitates the flow of vomit and keeps the airway clear, preventing the inhalation of vomit and potential life-threatening choking.
5. In addition to taking medication to treat the cold, children with gastroenteritis should also take some Chinese herbal medicines that relieve indigestion and expel heat. Examples include Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills, Jiawei Baohe Pills, and Zhuhou Monkey Jujube Powder.
6. If the child experiences severe abdominal distention, pain, and vomiting, they can take Simo Soup Oral Liquid to stop vomiting and aid digestion. After about half an hour, other medications can be taken for better effect.
7. Pay attention to timely replenishment of the water lost due to sweating, and supplement with sugar for better results.
Dietary remedies for children with cold and flu
1. Three Root Soup: 3 roots of Chinese cabbage, 7 roots of scallions, 15 grams of reed roots. Boil and drink with water. Take once a day for 2-3 consecutive days. This remedy has a cooling effect and is suitable for children with cold and fever. Chinese cabbage has a sweet taste and a cool nature. It can promote digestion, clear heat and detoxify, and relieve cough and phlegm. Reed root has a sweet taste and a cold nature. It can clear heat, produce fluid, relieve nausea and vomiting.
2. Carrot and Water Chestnut Congee: 150 grams of carrots, 250 grams of water chestnuts, 50 grams of rice. Slice the carrots, peel and bruise the water chestnuts, and cook them with rice. Season with a little sugar or salt after the congee is ready. This congee can clear heat, aid digestion, relieve cough, resolve phlegm, diuretic, and promote bowel movements. It is suitable for children with cold and fever. Carrots contain beta-carotene, which can protect epithelial tissues and respiratory mucosa and resist colds. Water chestnuts have a sweet taste and a cold nature. They function to clear heat, produce fluid, resolve phlegm, and promote diuresis.
3. Sweet Potato and Mustard Greens: 250 grams of sweet potatoes, 150 grams of mustard greens. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into small pieces, wash the mustard greens, put them in a pot with an appropriate amount of water, and cook until the sweet potatoes are soft. Season with salt and it is ready to eat. This dish can relieve external symptoms, induce sweating, and clear heat. It is suitable for children with cold and fever. Mustard greens contain a high amount of vitamin C, which can enhance the bactericidal and antiviral abilities of neutrophils and lymphocytes, alleviate cold symptoms, and shorten the duration of the illness. Sweet potatoes contain vitamin C and beta-carotene, which can protect epithelial tissues and respiratory mucosa.
Dietary taboos for children with gastroenteritis
1. Limit the consumption of milk. Drinking milk can cause bloating in children with gastroenteritis, so it should be limited.
2. Avoid fried cooking methods and heavily seasoned foods. Gastroenteritis in children is mainly related to irregular eating habits, excessive consumption of snacks and high-protein foods, which can lead to digestive disorders. Therefore, children should eat less barbecued, fried, and puffed foods, and avoid consuming cold drinks. Children with gastrointestinal infections may experience food stagnation, which can weaken the immune system and make them susceptible to colds when exposed to cold weather or consuming cold drinks.
3. Avoid sweet and sour foods. Sour foods can cause phlegm accumulation and make it difficult to cough up, leading to prolonged coughing. Eating too many sweets can hinder the recovery of inflammation. Avoid eating oranges. Many people believe that oranges can relieve cough and resolve phlegm. However, while orange peel does have these effects, the orange flesh can generate heat and phlegm.
4. Avoid foods that produce gas, are difficult to digest, or are irritating. Consuming foods that produce gas, are difficult to digest, or are irritating can increase the burden on the digestive system of children with gastroenteritis, leading to digestive disorders. If left untreated, upper respiratory infections can spread to the lower respiratory tract, resulting in conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
After reading the above content, I believe you have gained some understanding of what to do for children with gastroenteritis. Do you have any different opinions on how to treat children with gastroenteritis? Feel free to discuss with me.
