Dysentery is a fairly common disease, which is accompanied by damage to the large intestine and a violation of normal digestion processes. Many parents are interested in the question of what are the main symptoms of dysentery in children. After all, statistical data indicate that it is small children aged two to seven years that are most susceptible to this disease.
Dysentery in children and its causes
As you know, this is an infectious disease caused by various strains of Escherichia coli, in particular, Flexner and Sonne strains. After penetration into the body, some microbes die under the influence of gastric juice. The same microorganisms that managed to pass into the intestinal tract settle in the folds of the mucous membrane of the colon.
It is worth noting that most often infection occurs when eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, contaminated water, as well as low-quality dairy products. Often, symptoms of dysentery in children occur when hygiene rules are not followed - experts consider this problem to be a “dirty hands disease”. Naturally, infection of the body can occur during contact with an infected person.
Dysentery in children: symptoms
This infection has a short incubation period - as a rule, the first signs appear after a few days (from 1 to 7 seven days). To begin with, the child becomes moody, refuses food. Older children complain of constant nausea, up to repeated vomiting.
Escherichia coli release toxins into the bloodstream, which are none other than the waste products of microorganisms. These substances have a bad effect on the body, causing the main symptoms of intoxication. For example, headaches, dizziness, weakness, fatigue - all these are symptoms of dysentery in children.
In addition, there are signs of intestinal dysfunction. In particular, diarrhea is characteristic of dysentery. It is worth paying attention to the stool of the child, since with a similar lesion of the digestive system, feces can contain mucous clots of a greenish color, and sometimes blood streaks. Of course, over time, diarrhea leads to a gradual dehydration of the body, which is extremely dangerous, especially at such a tender age. Frequent attacks of dull, but severe abdominal pain are also observed.
As you can see, the symptoms of dysentery in children are very characteristic. Therefore, at their first appearance, it is necessary to call a doctor. Indeed, in this case, self-medication is dangerous. In the absence of qualified medical care, the disease can lead to serious complications, including neurological disorders and unconscious conditions.
Treatment of dysentery in children
Only a doctor knows what dysentery in children is, symptoms, treatment of the disease. Therefore, the treatment regimen is determined only after receiving the results of the analyzes. In some cases, you need to take antibiotics, for example, Ampicillin. In addition, it is important to stop the dehydration process and restore the normal water-electrolytic balance.
An extremely important component of treatment is a proper diet. Firstly, doctors recommend eating many times a day, but in small portions - so the digestive system will be easier to cope with their own functions. In addition, dairy products, as well as foods containing coarse plant fibers, should be excluded from the diet, as they irritate the intestines even more.