Diarrhea (diarrhea) in children - frequent (more than twice a day) emptying caused by various disorders of the digestive system. Diarrhea in infants and young children is most often observed.
Attentive it is necessary to be parents of kids for up to a year, since a soft chair at this age is the norm. However, if it suddenly becomes heterogeneous, it acquires a foreign color and unusual impurities - this is cause for concern and contact with a doctor.
Causes of diarrhea in children
1. Today, infectious and viral diarrhea in a child is more often manifested. They are caused by various pathogens and microbes.
If the rules of hygiene, improper cooking or the use of contaminated drinking water are not observed, intestinal infections (dysentery, salmonellosis and others) occur. They cause acute diarrhea in the child - the so-called disease of dirty hands. Of the viruses, the most common is rotavirus and adenovirus, the infection usually occurs in kindergartens, hospitals and schools. Its latent (incubation period) lasts 1-2 days, after which acute diarrhea and vomiting in the child begins. Also characteristic are the appearance of common symptoms: headaches, runny nose and cough.
2. Some medications may provoke such a disorder. In particular, antibiotics have a strong effect on the digestive system, which in the course of treatment kill not only disease-causing organisms, but also useful microbes that form the intestinal microflora.
Diarrhea can also manifest an individual allergic reaction to certain foods.
3. Diarrhea may occur under the influence of nervous system disorders (eg, violent anxiety and fears). So there is a functional diarrhea in children, not associated with an organic lesion of the intestine. It does not cause violations of the general condition of the child and his physical development (normal weight gain and growth).
4. Diarrhea also appears due to abnormalities of the stomach, pancreas, liver, insufficient isolation of enzymes in the small intestine. Such problems can lead to chronic diarrhea in children (impaired intestinal motility). In this case, the appearance of diarrhea becomes systematic.
Diarrhea in children - symptoms
Common symptoms are quickened loose stools, nausea, abdominal pain, a rumbling sensation and a worsening of well-being.
In general, the frequency of stools and the nature of stool for diarrhea in children depends on the type of disease. So, for example, with infectious infection in addition to rapid bowel movement, diarrhea with blood and a fever in a child can be observed, which indicates inflammatory processes. In this case, you must immediately consult a doctor to avoid various complications.
Treatment of diarrhea in children
First of all, you should contact the pediatrician to establish the cause of diarrhea and prescribe medication.
In parallel, it is recommended to give the child an abundant drink, thereby restoring the water balance in the body, disturbed by active loss of fluid. Dehydration can be prevented by preparations containing the optimal composition of salts and minerals (rehydron, glucosan). Reduce the frequency of the chair will help imodium (loperamide).
In this case, it is necessary to exclude from the diet fruit juices, milk and adhere to an elementary diet (refuse fatty foods, fresh bakery products, fruits and vegetables without heat treatment). Suitable unsweetened compotes, weak tea, water without gas, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, biscuits, steam chicken cutlets.