Acute gastroenteritis is a common disease in summer. During this season, bacteria and microorganisms easily multiply in food. The digestive system of babies is relatively weak, so if they accidentally consume infected food, it can cause inflammation. The baby may cry, vomit, have loose or watery stools, and some may even have fever. Today, I will talk about the causes and symptoms of acute gastroenteritis in babies in summer, as well as what to do if the baby has acute gastroenteritis. Let's discuss this topic together.
Causes of Acute Gastroenteritis in Babies
1. Infection in the intestines caused by bacteria and viruses, especially pathogenic Escherichia coli, is the main pathogenic bacteria. If a child has a disease and antibiotics are used in large quantities without reason, it can also lead to fungal invasion of the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, pneumonia, nephritis, otitis media, and other diseases outside the gastrointestinal tract can reduce the secretion of digestive enzymes and increase intestinal peristalsis due to fever and absorption of bacterial toxins.
3. Improper feeding of infants and young children, such as overeating or underfeeding, eating too much starch or fat too early, sudden changes in diet, sudden weaning, etc., can cause diarrhea in children.
4. Climate changes, such as excessive cold increasing intestinal peristalsis or excessive heat reducing gastric acid and digestive enzyme secretion, can also induce acute gastroenteritis.
Symptoms of Acute Gastroenteritis
Acute gastroenteritis usually presents symptoms of nausea and vomiting, which I believe many people are familiar with. Besides these two symptoms, what other symptoms are there? Let's take a look below.
1. Upper abdominal pain in the middle left or around the navel, intermittent exacerbation or persistent dull pain, accompanied by abdominal bloating and discomfort. A few patients may experience severe pain.
2. Nausea and vomiting, with vomit containing undigested food. Some patients may vomit yellow bile or gastric acid.
3. Patients with acute gastroenteritis may experience diarrhea, which will improve as the condition improves.
4. Dehydration can occur due to repeated vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms include poor skin elasticity, sunken eyes, thirst, and decreased urine output. In severe cases, blood pressure may drop and limbs may feel cold.
5. Hematemesis and melena: A few patients may have blood streaks in their vomit or their stools may appear black, and a fecal occult blood test may be positive, indicating bleeding in the gastric mucosa.
6. Fever, headache, general discomfort, and varying degrees of poisoning symptoms are common.
7. Acute gastroenteritis patients may also experience pain between the upper abdomen and the navel.
8. Rapid onset, frequent nausea and vomiting, severe abdominal pain, frequent watery diarrhea, which may contain undigested food, a small amount of mucus, or even blood.
9. In addition, headache, fever, chills, and muscle aches are also common symptoms. In severe cases, dehydration may occur due to frequent vomiting and diarrhea.
What to Do If a Baby Has Acute Gastroenteritis
When a baby gets sick, parents worry. When a baby has acute gastroenteritis, parents may feel extremely anxious. If the baby falls ill due to previous negligence, parents should not blame themselves too much. The key is to provide the best treatment for the baby as soon as possible. Do you know what to do if your baby has acute gastroenteritis?
1. Identify the cause of the baby's acute gastroenteritis.
If it is caused by indigestion, the diet can be adjusted by choosing light and easily digestible foods. Medications such as lactase and yeast tablets can be used in combination.
2. Pay attention to the baby's dietary hygiene.
Make sure to take precautions in the baby's diet, avoid raw and cold foods, and keep the abdomen warm.
3. Promptly replenish water and electrolytes.
Severe diarrhea can cause dehydration in babies, so parents should take good care to prevent worsening of the baby's gastroenteritis.
Through the above introduction, I believe you have some understanding of the causes and symptoms of acute gastroenteritis in babies in summer, as well as what to do if the baby has acute gastroenteritis. It is important to do targeted prevention in daily life, control the baby's consumption of snacks, and cultivate healthy eating habits. In addition, educate children to develop habits of cleanliness and hygiene to avoid ingesting diseases. I hope the above introduction is helpful to you. Stay healthy!
