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Children’s Diarrhea
By admin | August 18, 2007
Diarrhea is a normal condition that almost every baby has at least once and should not be reason to worry. But, it can be very stressful and doctor should be contacted. It is a body’s way of getting rid of body toxins and foreign substances.
Diarrhea is the passing of increased amounts of loose stools. It is often caused by a virus or bacteria and can be acute (short term) or chronic (long term). It can last more than two weeks. Diarrhea is often accompanied by stomach pains, feeling sick and vomiting. It is usually due to consumption of drinking water contaminated with bacteria, undercooked meat and eggs or inadequate kitchen hygiene – in other words, an infection.
Less common causes of diarrhea include reactions to medication, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, cystic fibrosis, and pancreatitis. An anatomical deformity, such as a fistula, or a congenital defect, such as Hirschsprung’s disease or short bowel syndrome, can also cause diarrhea. If your child’s diarrhea arises from any of these conditions, she requires medical attention. Vomiting and stomachache often accompany diarrhea, and abdominal cramps usually come and go, often occurring right before a bowel movement. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, a fever may or may not be present.
Whether or not it’s caused by a virus, the diarrhea most parents see is usually the acute form. Although it doesn’t last long, acute diarrhea is the most dangerous because it’s often accompanied by fever, which increases the likelihood of dehydration.
Stools can come in all kinds of color, and this can be pretty frightening to a parent. That’s why it’s very important to know that color of the stool should not scare you. Different foods and different medications can also cause different color.
You should remember that, when having diarrhea, milk should not be offered to your child. Children usually have hard time digesting milk while being sick. In babies, especially, too much fruit juice can cause diarrhea or make it worse. Some experts recommend serving only two or three small portions a day. Except these, there are few other things you should be doing, too. They are:
1. Cut back fruit – fruit usually helps with digestion, but while having diarrhea, eating bigger portions of fruit is not recommended. More than three serving per day make diarrhea worse.
2. Give your child “fatter diet” – add more margarine, serve more fish, poultry, and other meat. Drinking whole rather than low-fat milk is also better.
3. Do not use over-the-counter remedies – never treat your child unless you contact your pediatrician. Children are very sensitive and the best way you can help them is to seek professional help.
4. Pay extra attention to any kind of anus irritation – while having loose stool, child’s anus can be irritated and painful. Every sign of that should be reported to your pediatrician.
Diarrhea almost always causes dehydration. The best sign of dehydration is the urine color – if it’s dark yellow, your child is dehydrated. Other signs are: dry mouth, dry lips, fatigue, thirst, flushed skin.
Topics: Baby's Health, Disease and Disease prevention, Health, Parenting | No Comments »
