Achievements of modern pharmaceuticals cannot but rejoice. Those diseases that were considered fatal several hundred years ago are now successfully cured by the discovery of antibiotics. Penicillin was the first to be discovered, after which they began to produce semi-synthetic and synthetic antibiotics, each of which is effective against a specific type of bacteria. But everything has a flip side. During treatment, the beneficial intestinal microflora also dies. Therefore, diarrhea after antibiotics in children is not at all uncommon.
The main enemy of bacteria
Let's start with a quick tour. Consider what the drug group of antibiotics is and how these drugs work when they enter the body. Already on the basis of the name, it becomes clear that the action is directed against living cells that are foreign to our body. In other words, these are drugs whose action is directed against bacteria.
Its mechanism depends on the group to which they belong. Some destroy the cell membrane of bacteria, others neutralize them from the inside, and others do not allow sharing. But the result is always the same: the cell dies. Once in the digestive tract, the medicine is rapidly absorbed and enters the bloodstream.
Unfortunately, there is no difference for a drug whether bacteria in front of it are useful or harmful. Therefore, it goes to the natural inhabitants of our intestines. The result is diarrhea after antibiotics in children.
Causes of Diarrhea
But not so simple. After taking this group of drugs, various effects may develop, which as a result lead to severe diarrhea:
- Diarrhea after antibiotics in children can be caused by the action of antibiotics on intestinal motility. Almost all groups are distinguished by this. Erythromycin leads to the fact that the fluid passes through the digestive tract faster, Penicillin accelerates intestinal blood flow. But the result will be one: water does not have time to be absorbed and liquefies feces. It should be noted that this effect is rarely observed on its own, without the influence of other factors.
- Diarrhea after antibiotics in children may be associated with dysbiosis. This is a massive death of bacteria on the background of taking the drug. The latter does not know how to distinguish "friends" from "strangers." This phenomenon has two consequences. This is a digestive disorder and infection by pathogenic bacteria, that is, the settlement of pathogenic microflora in the free space.
- Pseudomembrane colitis. The reason for its appearance is a pathogenic bacterium. While the immunity is strong, he will not allow its reproduction. But while taking antibiotics, it weakens. The result is the growth of bacteria and the development of colitis, the main symptom of which is diarrhea.
- Resistance of pathogenic bacteria to therapy. That is, diarrhea is a symptom of a disease that continues to progress.
- Allergic reaction.
If the temperature rises during the treatment of the child, vomiting occurs, it means that you are treating something wrong or you have chosen the wrong scheme. You must immediately consult a doctor, undergo an examination to pick up other drugs. But this is a topic for another conversation. Let's go back to the case when a child has diarrhea after antibiotics. What should parents do in this situation?
We evaluate the condition
It will not be superfluous to recall that any medicines should be prescribed by a doctor. Their reception should be reasonable and really necessary. If a child begins diarrhea a few days after the start of treatment, then do not panic. Watch your baby throughout the day:
- If diarrhea is rare, up to 4 times a day and does not deplete the body, then you can give Smect and do not take any more measures.
- If diarrhea is frequent and debilitating, then you need to restore fluid balance in the body. Great for this is Regidron. The main task of parents is to prevent dehydration.
Many immediately begin to call the ambulance and ask: "What to do?" After antibiotics, a child may have mild or very severe diarrhea. In the second case, the baby becomes apathetic, after the toilet he immediately goes to bed. May be disturbed by abdominal pain. In such a situation, an ambulance crew will be sent to you.
When is medical assistance needed?
Parents have two extremes. Some call the doctor at the first minor changes in the condition of the child. Others, on the contrary, are drawn to the last, hoping that everything will go away by itself. Of course, you need to look for a middle ground. Diarrhea and temperature in a child after antibiotics is already too much. So, against the background of depressed immunity, his body was struck by another infection. It is required to call a doctor if your baby is not yet 1 year old and defecation occurs at least five times a day, and the following symptoms also join:
- In addition to diarrhea, nausea and vomiting occur .
- The baby has severe dehydration. He constantly sleeps, does not respond to irritants.
- If diarrhea develops almost immediately after the start of taking antibiotics, within a few hours.
- If diarrhea contains blotches of red or green.
- Against the background of diarrhea, the temperature rises.
Green diarrhea after antibiotics in children is not uncommon. If the general condition of the baby is normal, then you can ask this question during the next consultation with the pediatrician.
Treatment
If diarrhea after treatment occurs in an adult, then this does not cause much concern. Someone begins to drink fermented milk drinks intensely, others even wait until the condition normalizes on their own. But if diarrhea is after a course of antibiotics in a child, then parents try to take measures to normalize the digestive tract as quickly as possible. This is justified, because in babies the body weight is much less and dehydration can develop just lightning fast.
That is, treatment of diarrhea in a child after antibiotics begins with the fact that the water-salt balance in the body is normalized. There are many alternative methods for this, but if the child is small, then it is better to resort to drug therapy. There are two groups of drugs that can help you with this:
- Means for normalizing the water balance. These are "Oralit", "Hydrovit", "Regidron", "Humana electrolyte".
- Means for thickening feces. These are the well-known Smecta, Lactofiltrum, Enterosgel and many others.
- Probiotics are sources of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Choosing how to treat diarrhea in a child after antibiotics, consult a doctor for a start. For example, Smecta is a sorbent. On the one hand, it binds toxins. On the other hand, it neutralizes the body’s attempt to remove what poisons it. Therefore, if the cause is eliminated, then it will be beneficial. Otherwise, it will only complicate the situation.
Antibiotics for treating diarrhea
It is amazing how firmly the habit of treating diarrhea with chloramphenicol has established itself in our society. It is given even to children, despite the fact that the drug is not adapted for childhood. But this is not even surprising. If the child has diarrhea after taking antibiotics, it means that the microflora is seriously affected. It needs to be restored and in parallel to normalize the digestive processes. Instead, the child is prescribed an additional dose of antibiotics. What is it? Diarrhea is likely to worsen. In any case, the baby will be tormented by stomach discomfort for a long time to come.
Diet
Drugs are half the battle. If a child has diarrhea with mucus after antibiotics, it means that the intestines were seriously affected by the infection, and the therapy affected him not in the best way. The baby's diet should now contain foods that will help cope with the disease. Dietary nutrition is prevention and assistance to treatment, it must continue after the course of treatment is completed. This usually takes one to three weeks, depending on the therapeutic regimen applied. The gastrointestinal tract must fully recover, otherwise any load will lead to disturbances in its work.
Under the age of 12 months
Diet for infants will be different from what is recommended for older children. If the baby is breastfed, then there will be no major changes in his diet. Only if there is vomiting, the doctor may recommend replacing breast milk with Regidron solution for a day. But as soon as vomiting stops, you need to resume feeding.
Linex solution is also given for diarrhea. It is important not to overdose it, since a high concentration of salts in the body is also useless. It is recommended to give one spoon every 10 minutes. If the baby is on artificial feeding, then he is given a solution of "Regidron" before each feeding. If diarrhea does not go away in 1-2 days or has a severe course, then the child is placed in a hospital.
Older than one year
By this age, kids receive a varied diet, so parents will have to think carefully about what needs to be excluded. A well-balanced diet allows you to normalize the activity of the intestine in just a few days. If a child after antibiotics has diarrhea and vomiting, then you need to give him "Rehydron" 20 tablespoons for one hour. Be sure to use "Linex" or a similar drug.
What you need to exclude from the diet
After taking antibiotics, it is recommended to temporarily exclude citrus fruits and other fruits. Raw vegetables are not the best choice, their heat treatment is necessary. This list also has meat products and pasta, all fatty and fried, cakes and ice cream. On the table, the child should not see carbonated drinks, smoked meats, spicy and spicy foods, any milk and sour milk.
Compliance with these rules is very important. Often, the parents themselves are to blame for the fact that the condition of the child is getting worse. As soon as the baby begins to eat, they buy fruit, yoghurts, sausages and other harmful goodies.
What is recommended to eat
Diet is not always fun, but now it is absolutely necessary. It is very useful to use boiled rice and a decoction of this cereal. Banana puree can be added to the diet; this fruit helps to normalize the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. The next day, you can try a little applesauce. Dryers, bagels and crackers brighten the diet. Children love them very much. The basis of the diet can be broths and baked potatoes. It is very useful to prepare for the child jelly, infusion of St. John's wort, blueberries, raisins, dill. The diet is gradually expanding, as the condition of the child normalizes. The products that are listed in the banned list are best left in the end when you are already completely sure that the problem has passed.
Prevention
If antibiotics cannot be dispensed with, then measures must be taken to ensure that treatment goes without consequences. To do this, follow the recommendations that will help to avoid negative consequences:
- You can not take an antibiotic on an empty stomach. Often children have no appetite during the illness, in this case you need to give a little light food. If they completely refuse, doctors recommend feeding a piece of butter.
- During treatment, you need to adhere to a certain diet. The above scheme with recommended and prohibited products is fully consistent with it.
Instead of a conclusion
Antibiotics are not vitamins. They should be prescribed only by a competent and experienced doctor. Such treatment necessarily requires compliance with a number of rules in order to cause a minimum of harm to the children's body. In particular, it is necessary to follow a diet and take drugs that contribute to the restoration of intestinal microflora. In this case, the treatment will take place without any special consequences. Diarrhea and vomiting after antibiotic therapy can be caused by various factors. If after the end of the course several days have passed, then it is worth looking for a different reason than banal dysbiosis.