A fairly large group of diseases that are manifested in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, and intoxication of the body are assigned to intestinal infections. Pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, as well as opportunistic flora. I must say, intestinal infections in children are a common phenomenon. This is because the immune system in infants is still imperfect. In addition, young children do not have sustainable hygiene skills. The consequences of such diseases are especially pronounced in infants. The disease can provoke the development of dysbiosis, malnutrition and the development of secondary enzymatic deficiency.
In former times, intestinal infections in children often ended very sadly. Fortunately, the use of modern treatment methods virtually eliminates cases of fatalities in this disease.
The prevalence of intestinal infections is determined by the resistance of pathogens to various influences, they persist during drying, exposure to cold, long remain viable in soil and water, and when they get on food or in ready-made food, they multiply at a tremendous speed. Flies play a large role in the contamination of food and prepared foods.
Some infections (such as dysentery) can be transmitted from sick people or those who are carriers of the disease while remaining healthy. Most infections occur through the contact-domestic way, therefore, such infections are often called "dirty hands diseases".
Almost all intestinal infections in children have a similar clinical picture. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting are characteristic of diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
The incubation period for this disease is usually short. Most often, the disease begins to develop within a few hours or 2-3 days after infection. The combination of various clinical manifestations, as well as their severity, depends on the severity of the disease and the age of the child. In addition, the clinical picture depends on which particular gastrointestinal tract was infected.
Parents should remember that acute intestinal infections in children require emergency treatment. The sooner a diagnosis is made and treatment procedures are prescribed, the faster the child will recover.
Especially dangerous are intestinal infections in newborns. Infants most often suffer from colienteritis and salmonellosis, less often - from dysentery. Due to the fact that the intestinal microflora in infants is still being formed, they carry the disease harder than babies in the second and subsequent years of life. Such an infection is especially dangerous for babies who are fed artificial substitutes for breast milk, as well as for premature and weakened babies.
Treatment of infants is carried out in a hospital, so if the first signs of infection occur, you should consult a doctor or call an ambulance. The basis of treatment is gastric lavage and restoration of water-salt balance.
Children older than one year may be offered home treatment if the disease has not taken a severe course. However, such a way out is possible only if it is possible to ensure a strict sanitary-hygienic regimen, isolating the patient from contacts with healthy children. Naturally, it will be necessary to provide a sick child with full care and treatment. The local doctor in this case will daily monitor the condition of the sick baby.
They treat intestinal infections in children by oral rehydration in combination with diet. In some cases, gastric lavage is indicated. Moreover, it is necessary to start taking glucose-saline solution when detecting intestinal infection, as early as possible, even before severe symptoms of dehydration of the body appear.
From the very first minutes of the illness, parents should start giving ill-brewed tea, rosehip broth, rice broth to the sick child, subsequently replacing these drinks with standard rehydration solutions that the doctor will prescribe. If the disease is not severe, then the treatment solution can be prepared at home independently. To do this, take half a liter of boiled cooled water and dissolve in it half a teaspoon of salt and 4 tablespoons of sugar. If there is glucose in the home medicine cabinet, it is better to replace sugar with it, the dose for the indicated amount of water is 2 teaspoons.