Diarrhea in children: remedies and treatment. How to stop diarrhea in children

Should I panic when the baby liquid stool? Is it always associated with food, and how to stop diarrhea in a child? What causes diarrhea in children different ages? What diet is required than to drink a child during diarrhea? How long does it last for a baby and a one-year-old child and is it necessary to see a doctor in each case? It is useful for all parents to know the answers to these and other related questions.

Raising the temperature, our body tries to fight harmful microbes on its own. The higher the temperature, the large quantity microbes die. Strong immunity helps to cope with many diseases without the help of doctors and medicines.

Diarrhea, along with vomiting and coughing, also refers to the protective reactions of our body. Due to the ingestion of toxins, pathogenic microbes, along with an increase in temperature, our body also activates other mechanisms that help it cope with the scourge.

Hence the conclusion - you should not immediately, from the first minute of the discovery of diarrhea in a baby, resort to various medicines to stop diarrhea - you need to give the body time to self-medicate. You can help by putting your child on a strict diet with plenty of fluids. But noticing that a lot of time has passed, and the child’s diarrhea does not go away, you should resort to medical measures, consult a doctor, etc.

The concept of diarrhea at different ages

Not always liquid feces in a child is considered diarrhea. At different ages, the quality of defecation is different.

• in babies, the stool is constantly liquid, because it feeds only on liquids. The baby defecates up to 10 times a day, but in case of simultaneous manifestation of dehydration, a doctor is needed;
• in one-year-old children, diarrhea takes the form of watery and shapeless feces. The chair becomes more frequent (more than 5 times a day);
• at 2 - 3 years old, diarrhea manifests itself in more liquid feces compared to normal. The stool becomes more frequent up to 5 or more times, while normal stool occurs no more than 2 times a day.

When there's no reason to worry

Diarrhea is not always a health problem

Sometimes older babies, such as one-year-olds, vilify, but despite the diarrhea, they feel fine. The child does not have a fever (causes of diarrhea without fever), there is no vomiting, and he even eats with the same appetite and without whims. In such cases, the child's diarrhea is purely physiological - a reaction to some kind of change, for example:

• introducing a new product into the diet;
• switching to drinking water of a different quality;
• abrupt climate change associated with the weather, moving;
• stressful situation.

As you can see, diarrhea in children is often not caused by an acute intestinal infection, sometimes it is the result of the physiological activity of a healthy body. It is easy to determine the variant of the norm by the following features.

1. The diarrhea goes away as quickly as it comes.
2. It only happens once and never happens again.
3. Treatment is often not required, the disease goes away without intervention.

Causes and consequences

It is usually not difficult for parents to determine the cause of severe diarrhea in a child. Usually diarrhea is due to the fact that the baby ate something inappropriate, overeat, did not wash his hands before eating. Until the child learns to adequately assess all the dangers of the world around him, such situations will often arise.

But often cough and diarrhea are only the first signs of more serious problems. Many diseases are characterized by similar initial symptoms, and therefore parents should be on the alert at any time.

So, there are the following causes of diarrhea in a child:

If the baby has diarrhea, exclude fast food and other harmful foods.

What not to feed children

Since the most common cause of diarrhea is nutritional errors, all adults should be aware of the prohibitions imposed by pediatricians on certain types of products.

• mushrooms and fish;
• fatty pork;
• meat of geese and ducks;
• eggs that have not undergone heat treatment;
• whole nuts, including peanuts, although peanuts are not nuts, but legumes.

It is permissible to occasionally eat, but should not be abused:

• fast food, no matter how much children like such food;
• sweet carbonated drinks. They contain a lot of dyes, preservatives, and other chemicals.

In small quantities, the body will process unhealthy food without any special consequences, but from regular eating of the same fast food, fatty foods, sweet cola, diarrhea will probably stop over time, but obesity will develop - an example of the American nation is in full view. For adults, such food is also harmful, it is better to serve children. personal example and refuse it.

Diarrhea in children 1 to 5 years old

In cases where diarrhea in a child takes a chronic form and lasts for several weeks, but all the tests of the child are normal, often main reason becomes a so-called. irritable bowel syndrome. Doctors have not yet come to a consensus about the causes of the disease. The most likely are stress in the family and various phobias, negative emotions that manifest themselves in children at an early age.

Before treating a child's diarrhea, the doctor will first talk to the parents to identify the source of the stressful situation.

Further treatment of the child usually consists of the following:

1. Normalization of the psycho-emotional state. You may have to work with your parents, recommending that they visit a psychologist or psychotherapist. It is not so much diarrhea that is dangerous here, but an unfavorable situation in the family.
2. Strict diet . In particular, exclude sweets from the diet, since babies often abuse them, intuitively trying to “kill” the “negative” affecting them with at least some positive emotions.
3. Hospitalization. They will have to resort to it, unable to cope with diarrhea in a child at home. If in the hospital, as a result of a change of scenery, diarrhea quickly passes, it will become obvious that the reason is precisely in an unfavorable family atmosphere.

Diarrhea in 3 year olds

In addition to some errors in nutrition, its usual cause is elementary unsanitary conditions. At the age of three, children learn the world in the form of a game.

1. The kid at home, and on the street, and on the playground - everywhere he gets acquainted with new objects, takes them with his hands.
2. He can pet a street dog, a house cat at a party, and then not wash his hands.

Dysentery and amoebiasis, alas, are companions of children in younger age. Sometimes the baby has to be hospitalized, because the following ailments are accompanied:

• dehydration;
• weight loss;
• vomiting and fever.

It is enough to teach the baby with young years to prevention. Its rules are simple and clear:

• every time, touching an unfamiliar object, especially on the street, strive to wash your hands;
• sitting down at the table, wash your hands;
• fresh vegetables and fruits must be washed under the tap;
• drink only tested water, in extreme cases - well boiled;
• store products in accordance with the rules of storage.

It is really possible for a child to cultivate such a habit, and it will remain until the end of his life, protecting him from many misfortunes. Of course, it is more effective to take an example from adults.

Differences in the nature of the disease

Often, by the presence and absence of temperature, parents are able to judge whether an upset stomach in a baby is caused by an infection or is non-infectious. Pay attention to the following symptoms.

1. Infection - intestinal, viral. In both cases, diarrhea is accompanied high temperature. When an intestinal infection is also characterized by severe pain in the stomach, perhaps there is an acute surgery, then the baby must be urgently taken to the hospital. Antibiotic treatment also helps. A viral infection can cause complications, causing tonsillitis and scarlet fever, rubella and measles, etc. in children. In the case of a sore throat, the baby, for example, will have a dry cough and diarrhea, snot and severe sore throat. During acute forms of infection, a rash and diarrhea, vomiting, accompanied by high fever occur.
2. Non-infectious nature. The reason is indigestion caused by the food eaten. A set of enzymes helps the baby's body digest food. Their deficiency causes indigestion. Sometimes the cause is an allergy, for example, to a new product, to a medicine. But here the temperature at the same time usually remains normal or rises, but slightly.

It is necessary to fight with a very high temperature. Up to a certain level, an increase in temperature is not dangerous, the body tries to “boil” pathogenic microbes, killing the infection, and it should not be interfered with. But upon reaching the critical temperature, it is necessary:

• knock it down with an antipyretic;
• call a doctor at home.

What does a chair of different colors indicate

Also, parents can tell a lot about the type of feces in a baby with diarrhea. Color will help to understand the reason:

• yellow diarrhea in a child- a clear symptom of intestinal infection and stomach disease. Another reason is a rotavirus infection, the child will start to cough, a runny nose will appear, the throat will turn red and it will become difficult for him to swallow;
• black diarrhea in a child indicates serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and internal bleeding is also possible. In short - urgently to the hospital;
• black and green diarrhea indicates an intestinal infection;
• diarrhea white color often cause errors in nutrition, for example, a lot of sweet, fatty foods. Sometimes rustic cottage cheese and sour cream with a high concentration of calcium are to blame. But occasionally such a chair indicates health problems, then it is useful to consult a doctor.

anxiety symptoms

Be sure to call a doctor for a sick child with the following symptoms:

• diarrhea lasts a whole day, and even fasting and a lot of liquid do not help;
• the child has severe vomiting, which makes it impossible to drink water;
• severe pain in the abdomen;
• urine is either dark (little fluid) or gone for more than 6 hours;
• blood is visible in the child's stool (treatment of diarrhea with blood in children);
• the temperature rises sharply;
• the skin turns gray, the tongue becomes dry, the eyes sink;
• general lethargy and weakness.

The main thing is not to let the body get dehydrated. If you are unable to cope with the task yourself, consult a doctor.

Treatment Methods

Let's try to answer main question- if a child abuses, what should parents do?

Regidron is an excellent remedy for diarrhea.

Eat different ways cure diarrhea in a child. They depend on the reasons that caused the problem. It is one thing - the treatment of diarrhea in children at home, the other - under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital. Of course, first of all, diagnosis is required - the sooner you understand the cause, the more successful the treatment will be.

Even before you figure out how to heal, you can resort to one of two methods. They will not harm the child, but they can help.

1. fasting, diet. Sometimes during diarrhea, children refuse to eat - in no case do not force feed, the body itself tells the child which foods are undesirable for him now. It is better to transfer the baby to a sparing diet, because complete starvation is often not suitable early age. It is generally contraindicated for infants and children up to a year old to starve, it is impossible to disturb the protein balance, it is impossible to allow weight loss in a child. Babies in two - three years, it is also desirable to prescribe a sparing diet. But older guys, four or five years old, are allowed to starve a little.
2. Plentiful drink. Due to diarrhea, the body loses a lot of water, and it must be replenished. It is recommended to drink at the rate of 50 ml per kilogram of the child's weight, in small portions, but more is acceptable if desired. After vomiting, water is given again after some time.
3. Cleansing the stomach. The easiest way to do an ordinary enema.

All other measures designed to cure diarrhea in a child depend directly on the causes by which it is caused. Remember, the problem can disappear on its own if the body is able to cope with it.

What you should never do

So, diarrhea is a natural protective reaction of the body, therefore, first of all, try not to interfere with it. It is important not to panic and follow the rules:

• do not use antidiarrheals. Diarrhea and vomiting that accompany an intestinal infection are often beneficial - the body uses them to remove toxic substances from the stomach. You should endure at least the first few hours, without resorting to potent means, do not try with all your might to strive to quickly stop the baby's diarrhea. Give the child water, do an enema, but avoid diarrhea, especially with high fever and the appearance of blood in the stool;
• do not use any drugs other than enterosorbents. Medicines will be prescribed by a doctor and only after examining the child and identifying the cause of the disease. Enterosorbent is allowed to be given to children up to a year old and older, since it heals the affected gastric mucosa and absorbs harmful substances.

It is not treated for diarrhea, it is only a symptom, but for the cause that caused it. Get advice from a doctor, and do not use the advice of grandmothers and neighbors.

Medications

If you are sure that the baby’s diarrhea is caused by food poisoning, and you have home remedies that fix food in the baby’s stomach, taking medications will help him bounce back faster.

The medicine can be:

• activated carbon and other enterosorbents;
• probiotics (they are prescribed by a doctor during treatment for dysbacteriosis and intestinal infections).
• antimicrobial agents;
• herbal compositions - fruits of bird cherry and St. John's wort, oak bark, various herbs.

Chamomile

Among folk remedies treatment of diarrhea in children, a special place is occupied by an infusion of chamomile. The herb is sold in a pharmacy, and the decoction is prepared according to this recipe:

• a teaspoon of chamomile with mint is poured with a glass of boiling water;
• cover with a lid and leave to infuse for an hour;
• filter.

Let's drink to children 5 times a day in small sips.

Starch

Starch is also considered an effective useful tool in the fight against diarrhea in children. It is easy to cook liquid jelly from it, just sweeten the drink a little.

• take half a glass of water at room temperature;
• stir a teaspoon of starch in water.

Diet

Perhaps the age of the child does not allow him to starve, then a sparing diet is prescribed. Its main principles are as follows.

1. Eat often and in small portions. Instead of the usual four meals a day, the baby is transferred to a six meal a day. Portions are halved.
2. Admission misses. In the absence of appetite and the course of the disease in an acute form, one or two meals are skipped, and the portions are again halved.
3. Chopped food. Products are crushed by passing them through a sieve (blender).

Weekly diet

Sometimes the treatment of diarrhea in young children takes several days. In this case, the diet is prescribed taking into account every day, gradually increasing. Use Products good quality, fresh. Here is a sample five-day diet menu table.

Table

diet day	Set of dishes
1st	Allowed: - soups and purees based on buckwheat, rice, oatmeal (to the taste of the baby); - cereals on the water from the same types of cereals, without oil.
2nd	Bread products are added to the previous dishes: - white bread croutons; - biscuits. Mashed potatoes are also allowed, but without oil.
3rd	You are allowed to add: - low-fat varieties of cottage cheese; - bananas; - applesauce, baked apples; - crackers.
4th	Add fresh kefir with a low percentage of fat
5th	Add steam cutlets (meatballs) from: - chickens, turkeys; - lean fish.

Muffins and sweets, as well as fatty dairy products are completely excluded from the diet (low-fat cottage cheese and kefir are allowed). You can not eat also fresh vegetables and fruits, meat broths, fried, spicy and smoked dishes.

Allowed drinks

It is good for the child to drink plenty of fluids. It is not allowed to drink any liquid (and certainly not sweet cola and store-bought juices), but only drinks approved by doctors.

Children during diarrhea the best way fit:

• electrolyte solutions (purchased at the pharmacy in powder form). They give water to both babies and babies up to three years. You can make the solution yourself: in a liter of boiled water, stir in half a teaspoon of soda and salt, one tablespoon of sugar. Use the solution during the first day;
• dried fruit compote, raisins;
• weak green tea;
• mineral alkaline water.

If the child categorically refuses to drink water for several hours, and the diarrhea gets worse, call a doctor immediately, dehydration is extremely dangerous. In the hospital, he will be injected with saline intravenously.

Recovery after illness

When the diarrhea is over, the child's body will need time to recover, and he will need your help. The doctors' advice is:

1. Don't Overfeed. Even a baby who has lost a lot of weight is still worth feeding not “from the belly”, but in balanced fractional portions and often. The young body will quickly return to normal weight.
2. Eliminate dairy and meat products. It is better to switch to a vegetarian diet for a short time. For how much - consult your doctor.
3. Perform enzyme therapy. At first, the child’s stomach will not have enough of its own enzymes necessary for digestion different types food. The doctor will prescribe drugs for him, and you will see that he takes them.
4. Walks in fresh age. Even a weakened baby walks will benefit only.

Summary

So, we have listed the main causes of diarrhea in young children at different ages, talked about ways to cure it and fixing drugs. Now you can organize the baby the necessary diet, drink healthy decoctions.

But remember the main thing: prolonged diarrhea, accompanied by a high temperature, is a reason to consult a doctor.

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is a protective reaction, which is aimed at removing harmful and dangerous substances, pathogenic microorganisms and substances from the body.

You should not panic when a child has a single manifestation of loose stools.

We need to find out the connection between food intake and diarrhea.

However, when diarrhea in a 5-year-old child recurs and is associated with a gag reflex, this is a dangerous sign that indicates disorders inside his body.

It indicates any possible intestinal infections.

Treatment of diarrhea in a child of 5 years

Diarrhea is a response of the body to the influence of pathogenic bacteria, toxic irritants, drugs, etc. in the intestinal walls.

Not in all situations, the appearance of loose stools in a child needs immediate intervention and active treatment.

You should not worry when such a pathology manifested itself only once. However, if the problem reappears and is associated with additional symptoms, this indicates a disorder in work. internal organs child.

Mild and short-term diarrhea will practically not affect the general well-being.

In some situations, diarrhea occurs as a result of eating laxative products, such as plums, herbs, beans, or any stressful situations.

Therefore, before treating a child, eliminating diarrhea, or carrying out various activities, the root cause of diarrhea should be established. Based on it, the appropriate treatment is selected.

Kinds

The following types of diarrhea in a child are known:

• infectious - appears under the influence of various kinds of infections (bacterial, viral);
• alimentary - causes malnutrition, lack of vitamins and beneficial bacteria in the diet;
• dyspeptic - begins in the process of insufficiency of the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract or due to a lack of enzymes;
• medication - is formed after the use of antimicrobial agents that destroy the microflora and provoke dysbacteriosis;
• toxic - is a consequence of intoxication with toxic substances (for example, arsenic or mercury), due to impaired functioning of the kidneys;
• neurogenic - caused by difficulties with intestinal motility, disorders in neuronal regulation.

Viral diarrhea can appear due to rotavirus infection, which is often experienced by children 5 years old.

Therapy of this type of diarrhea must be comprehensive and take place in the infectious diseases department under the supervision of a doctor.

Causes

Diarrhea in a child at 5 years old, as well as at 4 years old, is mainly considered a manifestation of diseases that belong to the group of diseases of “dirty hands”. They appear as a result of non-compliance with hygiene rules.

At the same time, bacteria are able to penetrate the body through unwashed hands and in the process of using household items.

In addition, pathogenic microflora can enter the body in parallel with food.

The causes of diarrhea in children of 5 years of age are as follows:

• Intestinal infection. The most unpleasant symptomatology, requiring an immediate visit to a specialist. Given the degree of damage to the digestive system, the stool is intense watery or scanty with blood and mucus. However, in each situation there is a deterioration in the general well-being of the child, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite. And almost always there is an increase in body temperature.
• Unbalanced diet. In the process of eating a significant amount of products that have a laxative effect, incompatible components or dishes that do not correspond to the age of the child, diarrhea also occurs. The characteristic symptoms of "food diarrhea" are: the absence of pathological blood impurities, the general condition of the child does not worsen, no fever is observed.
• Worm invasion. Worms often become a factor that provokes the appearance of liquid and frequent bowel movements. In the coprogram, undigested food residues, muscle fibers, fatty acids, mucus, and sometimes blood are noted.
• The use of any medication. Mostly, this applies to antibiotics. The use of these drugs for diarrhea disrupts the normal balance of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, provokes the appearance of dysbacteriosis and diarrhea. It must be borne in mind that dysbacteriosis itself is not the cause of temperature, a sudden deterioration in the condition, or a gag reflex.
• stressful situations. Extremely often, negative emotions provoke disorders of nervous regulation in the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, which leads to constipation, dysbacteriosis and diarrhea.

Symptoms

Liquid stools can be mushy or watery, depending on the factor that provoked diarrhea:

• During dysentery, the feces are initially dense, over time it will become liquid, but insignificant, false urges are possible, blood and mucus will appear. This pathology can also be suspected by a characteristic subjective picture.
• When it was provoked by salmonella, the feces may become green or yellowish, the number of bowel movements over 10-20 times a day, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, fever.
• In the process of infection with an amoeba, glassy blotches of mucus and blood are observed in the feces.
• Viral diarrhea is in all cases frothy, offensive, and there is soreness in the abdomen, especially around the umbilicus.
• A colorless stool can be a symptom of hepatitis.

Before treating diarrhea in a child at 5 years old, as at 4 years old, you need to collect an anamnesis, focusing on the symptoms. This information must be presented to a specialist who will select the appropriate course of therapy.

In addition to loose stools, diarrhea is characterized by the following manifestations:

• intense rumbling inside the abdomen;
• bloating;
• pain discomfort;
• constant, ineffectual urge to defecate;
• colic;

Non-long diarrhea actually does not affect the health of the child in any way.

Prolonged and intense diarrhea leads to weight loss, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and pronounced changes in internal organs. Therefore, chronic diarrhea must be treated without fail.

Treatment

In a 5-year-old child, as well as at 4 years old, liquid stools that last 3-6 days appear as a result of rather dangerous reasons, which it is not possible to counteract on your own.

Therapeutic measures in this situation should be purposeful. For these purposes, it is necessary to establish the factor that provoked the gastric disorder.

Speaking about treatment, first of all, it is necessary to emphasize that the use of potent drugs is an undesirable measure, since an unformed organism suffers from therapy more than from the pathology itself.

Diet for diarrhea and stomach upset

The main focus of therapy is to maintain a balanced diet. On day 1, it is recommended not to feed a child at 4 years old, only to give a drink.

Every 5 minutes he should take 0.5 tsp. rehydration solution.

• crackers from wheat bread (the rest of the bakery products are excluded);
• soups without fat on unsaturated meat, fish broth, adding mucous decoctions of cereals, boiled and pureed meat;
• lean meats in the form of cutlets boiled in water or steamed;
• low-fat varieties of fish, which are also boiled in water or steamed;
• dairy products - it is permissible to use fresh or mashed cottage cheese, cow's milk and other milk products are excluded;
• cereals - cereals on the water from rice, oats, buckwheat;
• vegetables - only as decoctions that are added to the soup;

Medical treatment

In a 5-year-old child, as well as at 4 years old, liquid stools that do not stop for several days appear as a result of various factors, which must be eliminated by joint efforts with a specialist.

Therapy for diarrhea should be targeted, and for this purpose it is necessary to establish the cause that caused indigestion:

• When diarrhea in a child at 5 years old, as at 4 years old, is provoked by disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, he is prescribed medications that restore her work.
• With the appearance of dystrophy of the gastric mucosa, the use of substitutes for digestive enzymes is recommended.
• Loose stools, which are caused by a lack of vitamins in a child at the age of 4, must be treated with certain vitamin complexes.

It is necessary to take drugs that help to collect and remove from the body all toxic substances - adsorbents.

• Smecta;
• Activated carbon;
• Enterosgel;

Along with cleansing the body, positive bacteria are washed away, which is why it is imperative to use drugs such as probiotics and prebiotics, which enrich the body with beneficial microorganisms that counteract pathologies and restore the proper microflora in the gastrointestinal tract.

These drugs include:

• Linex;
• Baktisuptil;
• Khilak - forte;
• Normobact;
• Florok;
• Acipol.

Before using them, you should read the instructions, the list of contraindications and special instructions.

It is forbidden to give a child medication without a thorough examination by a doctor.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

• Dried films of chicken stomachs. In the process of butchering the chicken carcass, the stomach is washed, and the film is separated from it. Then washed in cold water and dries on a clean sheet of paper (the next day it dries completely). In the process of diarrhea, the film of the chicken stomach is crushed to a powdery mass and is used twice a day for 0.5-1 tsp, drinking plenty of water. Store the product in a cool dry place.
• Also useful is a decoction of dried pears. He has proven himself with better side due to its fixing effect.
• starch solution. This remedy is prepared as follows: 1 tsp. starch is diluted with half a glass of chilled boiled water. It is permissible to cook as jelly, adding sweets. Eat a child 1 glass three times a day.
• Infusion of partitions of walnuts. It is necessary to make the remedy as follows: 0.3 kg of walnuts are split and partitions separating parts of the nuclei are taken out. Pour them with 0.25 liters of alcohol (70 degrees) and insist for 3 days. Adults take 5-10 drops, diluted beforehand boiled water, three times a day, children are advised not to use.
• Tincture of dry pomegranate peel. You need to make the remedy as follows: 1 tsp. dried pomegranate peel is poured with 1 glass of water. Boiled for 15 minutes, infused, wrapped, 2 hours, filtered. As a treatment, you need to give 1 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals, small children - 1 tsp.
• Rice porridge, which is boiled in water, hard-boiled without salt, (recommended for adults and children).
• A decoction of rice (recommended if the child has diarrhea). 1 tea cup of washed rice is poured with 6-7 cups of water, put on a small fire and boiled. The finished product should be cooled, strained and given to the child 1/3 cup every 2 hours.

Diarrhea in a 5 year old child pathological condition Gastrointestinal tract that occurs when exposed to external stimuli and malfunctions in the functioning of various organs and systems in the body.

Preventive measures are carried out in order to prevent the onset of the pathological process, and during the onset of initial symptoms, it is necessary to immediately resort to the help of a specialist.

Timely received medical help prevents the formation of various adverse effects and adverse reactions.

Useful video

Diarrhea in a child is a common phenomenon that indicates a disease of the gastrointestinal tract or indicates infectious or viral pathologies. Sometimes a similar reaction occurs after antibiotics or taking other medicines. The main symptom of diarrhea is frequent loose stools. Measures to restore the digestive tract depend on.

Before taking measures to eliminate diarrhea, you need to identify the cause of the disease. Diarrhea is caused by various factors. The use of unfamiliar foods and liquids for the body is capable of provoking loose stools. In the latter case, you will need to adjust the diet, the symptoms will disappear.

The acute form of the disease is accompanied by fever, abdominal pain. Such diarrhea resolves after 3 days with adequate treatment.

Chronic

The disease is characterized by frequent bowel movements, stools with a liquid consistency, lasting more than four weeks. The child complains of abdominal pain. There is no appetite. Diarrhea is accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Chronic indigestion is a reason to see a doctor. Prolonged diarrhea causes dehydration of the child's body, as a result of which terrible consequences can occur, even death.

diarrhea symptoms

The main symptom is increased, thinning of the stool in the baby. In addition to the obvious sign, diarrhea is accompanied by:

• bloating;
• False urge to empty;
• Lack of appetite;
• General weakness;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• The baby has tearfulness, anxiety, refusal of food.

Symptoms are partially present or absent at all.

Companion of diarrhea in intestinal infections and poisoning - elevated body temperature. Mucus is observed in the feces, in case of poisoning - parts of the food that are not digested.

Without fever, diarrhea is due to malnutrition or allergies.

A breastfed baby often empties the bowels, which sometimes worries parents. If the feces are light brown in color and do not have impurities in the form of mucus or blood, you should not worry.

Diarrhea treatment

Diarrhea in children is a dangerous symptom, as the body loses a lot of fluid and salt necessary for proper functioning. First of all, the parent must restore the water and electrolyte balance through rehydration. After you can try. Do not forget that only a doctor prescribes adequate treatment. Separate drugs are not recommended for children under the age of 1 year. Parents have the right to provide first aid and alleviate the patient's condition before the arrival of the doctor. The doctor will tell you what to do to cure the little patient.

Medical

With diarrhea, the patient should be given a saline solution. It is permissible to use a drug purchased at a pharmacy: Regidron, Oralit, Enterodez.

If diarrhea is accompanied by fever, it is necessary to take antipyretic drugs that contain paracetamol. fever one year old baby- It is better to use rectal suppositories. Older children take suspensions. You can take baby paracetamol. In a year, the patient is allowed to take Nurofen as an antipyretic.

You can treat diarrhea by taking sorbents that help remove toxins from the body. For example, activated carbon, Smecta, Polysorb, Neosmectin. Smecta is recommended for children from birth, one diluted package is enough for 3 doses. A two-year-old baby is offered 1 sachet twice a day.

Dysbacteriosis will cause the appointment of bacteriophages and probiotics: Acipol, Linex, Enterol, Bifidumbacterin.

For intestinal infections, the doctor prescribes a course of antibiotics: Meronem, Kanamycin, Ciprofloxacin. Parents should not make an independent decision - to give the baby an antibiotic. This appointment is made by a doctor.

At breastfeeding it is acceptable to give an infant electrolyte solution to replenish fluids.

Dr. Komarovsky believes that medications are not the first helpers in the treatment of diarrhea. The most important are the conditions and environment in which the immune system begins to cope with the pathogen. It is necessary to provide the baby with peace, protect it from emotional stress, give more fluid. If diarrhea in a small child under one year old, the famous pediatrician recommends calling a doctor.

Diet for diarrhea

When symptoms occur, parents need to carefully consider the diet and quality of food consumed. Fractional, frequent meals will be appropriate. The child should chew food with special care. If this does not work, the food must be ground to a puree state using a blender. It is better to exclude animal fats from the diet and limit the intake of carbohydrates. It is necessary to give more to drink pure water, weak tea or weakly concentrated compote.

Allowed products:

• Steam fish of low-fat varieties;
• Kashi on the water;
• Veal, chicken;
• Steam cutlets and veal, turkey;
• Fruit and berry compotes, with the exception of plum, grape, apricot.

Products prohibited for consumption:

• Uncooked fruits and vegetables;
• Dairy products;
• Soups in fatty broth;
• Carbonated drinks;
• Pickled and salted vegetables.

In infants and newborns artificial feeding the situation in case of illness is more severe. With an intestinal disorder, it is important for a baby to restore the lack of useful and vital substances. Therefore, it is recommended to apply the baby to the breast more often, but to reduce the time of eating.

Formula-fed babies are prescribed to be fed every 2 hours. For feeding, the baby should eat 50 ml of the mixture.

For children from 6-8 months who have already been introduced to complementary foods, it is better to temporarily refuse additional food, limited only to breast milk or formula.

After the diarrhea stops, a sparing diet should be followed for at least a week to consolidate the result. In a one and a half year old child, cereals and vegetable soups are allowed in the diet. In a two-year-old baby, cottage cheese is allowed on the menu, without dyes and preservatives. During this period, the work of the intestines is normalized.

Prevention of intestinal disorders in a child

To avoid problems with the intestines, it is important to observe simple rules. First of all, it is required to teach children to wash their hands after walking and before eating. Adults should thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits, cook meat and fish.

Toddlers up to a year explore the world around them with great interest, while tasting rattles, toys and everything that comes to hand. Parents should regularly wash toys and carry out wet cleaning in places where the baby plays. It is necessary to exercise constant control over the small.

Children 6 years old are already old enough to understand what adults say. It is worth explaining that you can not drink water while swimming during summer holiday from reservoirs, as well as tap water.

If diarrhea often occurs for no apparent reason and does not go away for a long time, and it cannot be cured on its own, it is necessary to consult a doctor and inform him about diarrhea. The doctor may prescribe an examination of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, revealing pathologies accompanied by an unpleasant symptom.

Everyone has experienced diarrhea at least once in their life. This is not an independent disease, but a symptom of some diseases and infections. It is believed that diarrhea is a benign condition, but urgent measures must be taken if diarrhea occurs in children. It is very difficult to determine what a child has: really diarrhea or just loose stools, so you need to carefully monitor his condition. Diarrhea is especially dangerous in children under one year old, because such babies can become dehydrated very quickly. And parents who do not pay due attention to the baby's stool should remember that thousands of children die from the effects of diarrhea in the world. It is important to know what causes this condition, how to recognize it and how to treat it.

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is called frequent liquid or watery stools, sometimes with impurities of blood or mucus. It is characterized by an irresistible urge to empty the bowels. This occurs when food quickly passes through the gastrointestinal tract and leaves the body without delay. Often this is due to a violation of intestinal motility, a deterioration in its absorption functions, or the presence of inflammatory process. This leads to dehydration and decreased mineral intake, which can cause death if left untreated. How do you know if your child has diarrhea and not just loose stools? If he has more frequent bowel movements than usual, the stool is loose and watery and has bad smell need to take action. A temperature and diarrhea in a child indicate the presence of an infection.

If the child has a loose stool once and the baby is cheerful, does not feel unwell, no special treatment is required. You should definitely consult a doctor if he has a stool more than three times a day, there are impurities of blood or mucus in it, and a sharp unpleasant odor is felt. All parents should know how to stop diarrhea in a child because dehydration can set in very quickly. What can be done to avoid this?

• digestive disorders in childhood, such as vomiting or diarrhea, are primarily dangerous due to dehydration. At the first manifestations of these symptoms, the baby is given to drink Regidron Bio powder diluted according to the instructions with water. It is a balanced combination of glucose, electrolytes, lactobacilli (LGG) and the prebiotic component maltodextrin. Timely use of Regidron Bio prevents and eliminates dehydration, loss of electrolytes, helps restore and maintain normal intestinal microflora. The product improves the well-being of the child and normalizes the activity of the digestive system.
• Babies must be breastfed more often, in no case should you refuse mother's milk with diarrhea.
• To prevent dehydration, you need to drink more water, preferably mineral without gas.
• It is very important to take enterosorbents that neutralize toxins. The drugs "Smecta", "Polysorb" or "Enterosgel" work best.
• To restore the intestinal microflora, it is recommended to take preparations containing bifidus and lactobacilli. For children, Bifidumbacterin, Lactulose or Hilak-forte are safe.

Folk remedies for diarrhea

It often happens that at the most inopportune moment, diarrhea occurs in a child. How to treat her if there is no way to call a doctor or go to a pharmacy? The main thing is to prevent dehydration in the baby. Rehydration solution can be prepared independently. To do this, dissolve in half a liter of warm boiled water a tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of soda. It is necessary to give the child to drink as often as possible.

If the baby is sick, and he is not allergic to citrus fruits, you can make such a medicine: dissolve 8 tablespoons of sugar, a spoonful of salt in a liter of water and squeeze the juice of two oranges into it. You can also alternately give your child sweet weak tea and saline. This will help replenish the loss of fluid and mineral salts. To fix the stool for all children, regardless of age, it is very good to give rice water, a decoction of pomegranate peels or a solution of potato starch. Compote of dried pears or dried blueberries works well. But for newborns the most the best medicine- This breast milk.

When should urgent action be taken?

In most cases, when a child has diarrhea, you can manage it on your own. But you should definitely call a doctor if:

• diarrhea in a child up to a year;
• you suspect that the child was poisoned by medicine or chemicals;
• the baby has a temperature above 38 degrees;
• blood impurities are visible in the child’s stool or it is tarry;
• if there are obvious signs of dehydration: dry skin, weakness, dizziness, lack of urination.

What not to do with diarrhea in children

1. Some parents believe that the child's diarrhea will go away on its own. But diarrhea should not be left untreated. If there is a disorder of the stool, then there are some disturbances in the functioning of the intestines. And you need to help him at least with a diet and enterosorbents. But a small child under the age of one year, in any case, you need to see a doctor.
2. You can not treat babies with "adult" medicines, especially those that someone advised you. The remedy for diarrhea in children should be special, drugs that are not suitable for them can make it worse.
3. Antibiotics are not needed for diarrhea, they further disrupt the intestinal microflora. If the diarrhea was caused by an infection, the doctor prescribes special antibacterial drugs.
4. It is undesirable to give a child medicines for diarrhea, such as Imodium or Loperamide, without a doctor's prescription. Often preparations containing bifidobacteria are also useless.
5. Never exceed the dosage prescribed by your doctor. All medications you give your child should have a normal expiration date.

Diet for diarrhea

It is very important to follow a special sparing diet from the very beginning of the onset of diarrhea. Babies need to exclude all complementary foods, leaving only water and breast milk. It is advisable for older children to drink only decoctions of chamomile, mint, blueberries or pears for the first 12-24 hours. Then, for a while, the following foods are excluded from the diet:

• almost all vegetables and fruits, especially fresh, and juices;
• bakery products;
• milk and dairy products.

What can be given to a child:

• as much liquid as possible: weak tea, unsweetened compotes, decoctions of herbs;
• mashed mucous soups based on cereals;
• cereals without milk, especially oatmeal and rice;
• rye crackers;
• boiled lean fish or meat.

Prevention of diarrhea in a child

It is almost impossible to completely avoid indigestion in children, but every parent should try to protect their baby from intestinal infections, poor-quality food and various diseases. What should be done so that diarrhea in children does not occur so often?

• teach your child to wash their hands before eating and after walking;
• wash vegetables and fruits well;
• drink only clean water;
• boil well the eggs and meat products that you give to the child;
• monitor the child's nutrition, exclude carbonated drinks, chips, canned food and fast food; it is best if you cook for the baby yourself;
• Be sure to check the expiration dates on all foods you give your child, and store food only in clean containers at the right temperature to keep them safe.

Diarrhea in childhood is very common, especially in preschool age.

Indigestion can be caused by nutritional errors, infections, or diseases of the internal organs.

For effective treatment diarrhea in children is important to correctly determine the cause.

A child is born with an unformed digestive system: intestinal loops are not formed, less enzymes are produced. For this reason, food passes through the gastrointestinal tract faster. The formation process is completed by an average of 3-5 years, so the stool rate varies depending on age.

Loose stools are the absolute norm for children under six months of age who are breastfed. The first 2-3 months of life, babies empty their intestines after each feeding (6-10 times a day), while the consistency of feces is liquid.

As the child develops, beneficial bacteria colonize the intestines, organs that secrete digestive enzymes develop, so the number of bowel movements increases, and the density of feces increases.

For babies whose diet is dominated by mixtures, the stool norm is different: the feces are more formed, the number of bowel movements does not exceed 3.

After the introduction of complementary foods (at 4-6 months), the baby's stool changes. Babies walk in a big way up to 2 times a day, the consistency of feces depends on the foods consumed.

After a year, most children switch to normal nutrition, so they call diarrhea watery stools more often 5-7 times a day with a pungent odor. Depending on the cause of diarrhea, the color, smell and consistency of feces may vary.

Classification of diarrhea in children

There are several types of diarrhea in children:

• Infectious.

Indigestion caused by the penetration of viruses and bacteria into the child's body (dysentery, intestinal flu, salmonellosis).

• Toxic.

Diarrhea caused by chemical poisoning: mercury, arsenic, household chemicals.

• Alimentary.

Indigestion is associated with the peculiarities of nutrition, may be caused by intolerance to a certain product.

• Dyspeptic.

Diarrhea is a symptom of enzyme deficiency in pathologies of the pancreas, small intestine or liver.

• Medical.

Diarrhea develops after prolonged use of drugs (usually antibiotics) due to a violation of the intestinal microflora.

• Neurogenic.

Diarrhea occurs after an experienced fright or stress due to a violation of the nervous regulation of intestinal motility.

Any kind of diarrhea can be acute - it occurs suddenly, the symptoms develop rapidly.

Chronic diarrhea occurs due to intestinal irritation, loose stools do not stop for several weeks. Violation can be caused by diseases of the digestive system or lactose intolerance.

In children's intestines, the mucosa is thin, toxins easily penetrate the circulatory system, so diarrhea is often accompanied by vomiting and high fever. This condition leads to intense fluid loss, especially if the child is less than 3 years old. Rapid dehydration is very dangerous, it disrupts the entire body and can be fatal.

Causes of chronic diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea that lasts for several weeks or months with periodic exacerbations is a symptom of a general disease or pathology of the digestive tract:

• Celiac disease is gluten intolerance.

The violation is very rare, diarrhea begins after eating foods with gluten. This vegetable protein is found in wheat, rye, and oats. The disease is accompanied by constant diarrhea, severe gas formation.

• Dysbacteriosis.

Imbalance between good and bad bacteria in the gut. It develops due to the use of antibiotics.

• lactase deficiency.

Manifested by diarrhea after eating dairy products. It occurs due to a lack of an enzyme in the body that breaks down milk sugar.

• Intestinal diseases of a non-infectious nature (Crohn's disease, Duodenitis, irritable bowel syndrome) cause inflammation of the mucosa, increase peristalsis, so food comes out very quickly.

Chronic diarrhea leads to a violation of the absorption of useful substances, a decrease in intelligence and a developmental delay (mental and physical). This condition requires urgent medical treatment.

In the case of celiac disease, a gluten-free diet must be followed for life.

Causes of acute diarrhea

Most often, children develop acute diarrhea. Violation of the stool can be caused by a variety of reasons:

• Features of nutrition.

The intestinal microflora and the immune system of children are very unstable, so diarrhea can appear after eating new foods. Such symptoms are often observed with the introduction of complementary foods.

In infants, diarrhea may occur due to the product eaten by the mother.

• Medicines.

Diarrhea can be a side effect of certain medications: choleretic, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics. Diarrhea occurs due to the development of dysbacteriosis, long-term treatment or dosage violations.

• Infections not associated with the gastrointestinal tract: tonsillitis, otitis media, rhinitis.

These diseases are accompanied by the formation of mucus in the nasopharynx, which drains into the stomach and changes the consistency of feces. In children under one year, diarrhea often occurs against the background of teething.

• Food and chemical poisoning.

One of the most common causes of diarrhea in children. Toxic substances enter the body when consuming stale or low-quality products.

• Intestinal infections caused by bacteria and viruses (dysentery, rotovirus, salmonellosis, staphylococcus aureus).

Such diseases are susceptible to children attending kindergarten and school. Infection occurs through contact with the carrier and non-compliance with personal hygiene.

Dr. Komarovsky's comment that diarrhea in itself is not a diagnosis, but occurs as a result of some disease.

Associated symptoms of diarrhea

Diarrhea rarely occurs as an independent phenomenon, it is usually accompanied by other symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• flatulence;
• abdominal pain, usually cramping;
• the appearance in the feces of mucus, blood or undigested food.

An increase in temperature and vomiting accompanying diarrhea is a sign of the penetration of a pathological organism into the body of a child. Symptoms appear 8-12 hours after the onset of diarrhea.

With each bowel movement and bout of vomiting, the child loses 100 to 300 ml of fluid, moisture evaporates through the skin, which leads to rapid dehydration.

Signs of dehydration:

• weakness, sometimes loss of consciousness;
• convulsions;
• rare urination, urine of a rich yellow color;
• disappearance of shine in the eyes;
• dry mouth and lips;
• frequent heartbeat;
• lowering blood pressure.

Frequent bowel movements cause irritation of the rectum and anus, a rash and redness may appear around it.

All colors of slime: from white to black

With infectious diarrhea, mucus appears in the feces, its smell becomes very sharp. The cause of diarrhea can be judged by the color of the feces:

• Red

With bleeding of the lower and middle sections of the intestine.

• Green

With diarrhea caused by a bacterial or viral infection, the child will have green stools.

• Black

This color is typical for stomach bleeding.

• Bright yellow

If a child has yellow feces, then this indicates dyspeptic disorders.

• White

With enzyme deficiency, white feces appear.

• Stool with blood

The appearance of blood in the feces is a very dangerous symptom that occurs when the intestines are damaged.

How can diarrhea be treated

Diarrhea in a child is not always a sign of infection or poisoning. If there is no temperature, the baby is active, there are no suspicious inclusions in the feces, treatment can be done at home.

You can't do without professional help if:

• the temperature has risen sharply;
• vomiting started;
• the child is very weak;
• there is blood, foam in the stool;
• stools have acquired an atypical color;
• diarrhea does not stop for more than a day.

Children under one year of age deserve special attention. Due to their low weight, they lose fluid very quickly, dehydration develops very quickly.

If such symptoms occur, you should contact the infectious diseases department. After examining the child and studying the stool, treatment is prescribed. If a bacteriological or viral nature of diarrhea is suspected, laboratory research feces.

Treatment in a hospital lasts several days and depends on the age, condition of the child and the type of infection.

First aid: what to do to stop diarrhea?

Alimentary diarrhea can be stopped at home. To do this, it is enough to exclude the irritating factor - any food. Usually after a few hours, loose stools disappear.

It happens that against the background of the disorder, the appetite remains at the same level and the child asks to eat. You can offer him a cracker or unleavened biscuits with weakly brewed tea.

• dairy products;
• fresh fruits, vegetables and juice from them;
• solid food.

The biggest danger with prolonged diarrhea is dehydration. To make up for the lost fluid, you need to give clean water to drink after each bowel movement, weak tea (weakly sweet without lemon), dried fruit compote.

If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, the amount of liquid should not exceed 20 ml, but you need to drink every 10-15 minutes.

Babies do not stop breastfeeding. At the same time, it must be remembered that mother's milk will not be able to compensate for the fluid lost by the body, therefore, between feedings, 5 ml of water must be poured into the child's mouth.

While waiting for an ambulance, you can give an absorbent (Enterosgel or Activated charcoal). These drugs are not absorbed into the bloodstream, so they are harmless even for babies.

Medications and preparations for children with diarrhea

Drug therapy for diarrhea in children consists of several areas:

• Restoration of water-salt balance.

To do this, use Regidron or Glucosalan. The drug in the form of a powder is diluted in warm water and given in small sips after 5-10 minutes.

• Removal of toxins.

Absorbent preparations will cope with this task: Activated carbon (in powder, tablets or in the form of a gel), Enterosgel. These funds absorb not only toxins, but also molecules of other medicines, so you need to observe an interval of 1.5-2 hours between different drugs.

For mothers of the smallest - children under 2 years old, the message of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Medical Products (ANSM, France) will be important information. This source reported that Smecta® may contain lead impurities and there is a risk of transfer of lead into the blood in children receiving therapy with this drug if they are less than 2 years old.

The Russian Union of Pediatric Centers has already sent out a warning to doctors from the French regulator, which recommends using Russian drugs instead of Smecta for children and pregnant women.

• For antibacterial effects, Levomecithin, Enturol, Furozalidon are used.
• Restoration of microflora is carried out with the help of probiotics and prebiotics: Linex, Enterol, Bifiform Baby.
• Normalization of peristalsis.

With diarrhea, accompanied by uncontrolled contraction of the intestine, Loperamide or Imodium is prescribed.

If diarrhea is caused by the waste products of helminths in combination with symptomatic treatment, antihelminthic drugs are prescribed (Nemozol, Pirontel).

The type, form and dosage of drugs for diarrhea in children is determined by the pediatrician. It is strictly forbidden to use medicines intended for adults.

Traditional medicine at home

In addition to the main treatment, you can use proven recipes for informal medicine:

Rice for stool

2 tablespoons of cereals are washed once and poured into hot water (about half a liter).

Cook over low heat for 35-45 minutes. The cooled broth is ground until smooth and give the child 1-2 tablespoons several times an hour.

Decoction of bird cherry

A handful of dry berries are poured with 2 cups of boiling water and simmered in a water bath for half an hour. After cooling, the liquid is filtered and given to the child in 20 ml after 2 hours. For children under 3 years old, a teaspoon is enough.

Decoction of oak bark

It solves several problems at once: it makes the feces denser, eliminates the process of inflammation on the mucous membrane and destroys some microbes. It is easy to prepare: oak bark is poured with boiling water in a ratio of 1: 2 and heated in a water bath for 20 minutes. The cooled liquid should be drunk 50 ml 4-5 times a day.

Rosehip decoction

Contains many vitamins, it is recommended to drink it instead of tea with signs of dehydration. It is very simple to prepare the product: a handful of rose hips are poured with a liter of water and boiled for 7-10 minutes. The container with the broth is left to infuse for an hour under a warm blanket.

Chamomile tea

It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Its reception with diarrhea soothes the inflamed mucosa and eliminates discomfort. The plant can be added to regular tea or brewed separately (1 tablespoon per cup of boiling water).

Despite the complete naturalness, the listed funds may have an undesirable effect, so be sure to consult your doctor before using chamomile.

Nutrition and diet during treatment

It is desirable to make the first day of diarrhea “hungry”, since any food has an irritating effect. In extreme cases, it is allowed to give unsweetened crackers or cookies.

Starting from the second day, you can add water porridge (oatmeal or rice), grated dietary meat, vegetable broths, low-fat cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs into the diet. All food should be cooked without adding spices.

With normal diarrhea, such a diet is observed for no more than a week, if the diarrhea is caused by an infection, it is extended until complete recovery.

To prevent diarrhea in children, it is necessary to strictly observe the rules of hygiene, subject meat and fish dishes to heat treatment, wash vegetables and fruits with soap.