Each mother in the process of raising a child is faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as diarrhea, otherwise - uncontrolled loose stools, in which the process of defecation without the possibility of restraining the urge to defecate occurs more than 5-6 times a day. The total number of bowel movements depends on the age of the baby and the reasons that caused this process in the body.
Is diarrhea harmless in children?
What does the famous children's doctor Komarovsky think about this? Diarrhea in children, in his opinion, at first glance may seem a very harmless phenomenon, so to speak, a temporary misunderstanding.
However, parents should not be mistaken about this, because certain health problems can be a provocateur of the alarming state of the child's body. Therefore, a mother with a baby must necessarily consult a doctor to determine with him the reasons that caused
diarrhea in the child.Komarovsky - the most famous pediatrician
Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky is a doctor of the highest category, the author of a large number of scientific works and books, leading his own program on television, and has received a large quota of trust of millions of parents. More than a quarter of a century has been associated with the field of healthcare. Since 1983, after graduating from the Kharkov Medical Institute, he worked in the regional infectious diseases hospital. In 2000, he moved to a private clinical center as a leading consultant for pediatric admission. Since 2006, patients have been admitted to their own private clinic.
A wide parental audience is familiar with the famous pediatrician on the television show "School of Doctor Komarovsky", which started in the spring of 2010 on the Ukrainian television channel Inter. Also, Eugene Olegovich often takes part in television programs devoted to medical topics, and causes maximum confidence in issues related to children's health.
Diarrhea while breastfeeding
According to Dr. Komarovsky, diarrhea in children can be triggered by breast milk, in which substances irritating the digestive organs of the newborn get into the diet with the mother. As soon as the baby’s forming stomach does not cope with them and signals the problems of diarrhea that have arisen. What should mom do? Identify an unfavorable product and abandon its use for a while, and also adhere to a diet in which breast milk will only benefit the baby.
Perhaps the cause of diarrhea is in infant formula?
How else does Dr. Komarovsky explain the reasons for the deterioration of well-being in children? Diarrhea in children can be caused by individual intolerance to products received both with breast milk and during feeding. It is noted that infants who feed on mother’s milk suffer from indigestion less frequently than children who are breast-fed. After all, often provocateurs of loose stools are bait mixtures with which the mother tries to diversify the baby’s diet. If a child has diarrhea, what should I do? Komarovsky advises at the first signs of its manifestation to abandon the mixtures that provoked an intestinal upset, and return to a more adapted diet.
Causes of dehydration
Overfeeding, inflammatory processes in the body, infectious diseases, pathologies of the internal organs of the gastrointestinal tract are also provocateurs of uncontrolled bowel movements, says Dr. Komarovsky. Diarrhea in children, even the most ordinary, can cause dehydration, causing anemia, weight loss, decreased immunity, and other negative consequences.
When is diarrhea safe?
Komarovsky considers a diarrhea in a child to be normal if frequent loose stools are associated with a change in diet, physical processes in the body (for example, teething), as well as the baby’s experiences.
In very young children, loose stools can be observed throughout the day about 20 times, which is considered quite acceptable. Upon reaching 3 years of age, the stool is usually characterized by a mushy consistency, yellow or brown color and a frequency of bowel movements from 1 to 3 times a day.
If the liquid stool in a child by the age of 3 does not stop and pesters him with the same intensity, you should urgently contact a pediatrician who, in order to make a correct diagnosis, will try to identify the causes of the disease as accurately as possible.
Doctors will be interested in the duration of an intestinal upset, the frequency of stool and urination, the consistency of feces, weight loss, tears during bowel movements, blood and mucus in the feces, as well as related symptoms: vomiting, rash, fever, and abdominal pain. Information about the child’s visits to child care facilities, diseases among family members at the time of the examination, sources of drinking water, etc., is also important.
Provocate diarrhea in older children
Diarrhea in older children can be caused by:
- defective or banned products;
- infectious lesions and acute inflammation;
- lack of food enzymes;
- inflammatory processes;
- helminthic infestations;
- poisoning;
- chronic diseases of the digestive system;
- acute leukemia;
- the use of antibiotics that cause intestinal upset and dysbiosis;
- stress
- strong emotional stress.
What should mom do if diarrhea is observed in a child without fever for some time? Komarovsky on this occasion says that, most likely, there is a violation of the digestive function, and this may be due to both physiological and psychological factors. A change in the consistency and color of feces, their acquisition of water content, the presence of impurities with an acidic smell can be observed against the background of the expansion of the baby's menu.
Parents are often worried about the question: "If the child has diarrhea, how to treat? Komarovsky advises giving a sick child a medicine that slows down intestinal motility (Loperamide, approved for use from the age of 6) and supports its microflora (Linex). Before taking medication, be sure to consult your doctor. In simple cases, a medical specialist will recommend a plentiful drink instead of diarrhea.
Diarrhea and temperature in a child
Komarovsky explains to his patients that sometimes, against the background of diarrhea, an elevated temperature can be observed, which parents of infants often associate with the teething of the baby's first teeth. Indeed, for young children, the growth of new teeth is stress, to which the baby's body reacts with frequent loose stools. If parents are sure that indigestion is associated with this very reason, then they can give the baby a medicine that slows intestinal motility. Along the way, the use of fastening products is recommended: a drink made from raisins or rice broth. The main thing is that these funds are suitable for the age of the child.
The danger of rotavirus infection
Also, adverse symptoms may indicate the presence in the body of a rotavirus infection, discovered recently - in 1973. Translated from Latin, the word rota means “wheel”, since the virus under the microscope is remotely resembling a wheel in shape.
Rotavirus infection spreads through food, as well as through the contact-household route. Regardless of living conditions and the degree of hygiene, almost all children suffer from rotavirus. The highest percentage of infection with such an infection is among children of the age category from 2 to 6 years. With rotavirus, vomiting, diarrhea in a child without fever can occur. Komarovsky recommends to visit the attending physician, to pass the tests prescribed by him, on the basis of which the causative agent of the disease will be identified. Guided by an accurately diagnosed diagnosis, the pediatrician will be able to prescribe an effective treatment. As a rule, antimicrobials are prescribed (Enterofuril). Parents are not recommended to give the child any medication on their own. The maximum that they can help their child with is to drink plenty of fluids to stop dehydration, sorbents (activated carbon, Enterosgel, Polysorb).
To normalize the condition of the child, it is recommended to use means that lower the temperature ("Paracetamol"), and provide a diet selected by the attending physician according to the age of the child and the course of his illness.
If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting
Intestinal disorders, accompanied by vomiting, as well as pain in the abdomen (determined by palpation in the epigastric zone), indicate a possible poisoning or the presence of harmful microbes in the intestines, causing the development of malicious infections.
The manifestation of vomiting and diarrhea is a kind of an attempt by the body to defend itself and get rid of pathogenic microbes that destroy the microflora. The unnatural color of feces is considered a real cause for concern: green indicates bacterial pathology, black indicates internal bleeding. You should be alarmed if spotting or large amounts of mucus are found in the feces. Vomiting without diarrhea in a child is also very dangerous. Komarovsky argues that the painful condition itself will not go away, so the child should be urgently hospitalized. No self-medication is allowed: only a doctor’s consultation and the use of prescribed drugs.
Parents at such moments need to drink their child with a large amount of liquid (you can give "Rehydron") and not force them to eat a lot, because for a weakened body, eating in the usual volume will be a heavy load. After 8-12 hours, at the end of rehydration therapy, aimed at replenishing fluid in the body, you can gradually introduce into the diet products that are easily digested: rice, bananas, crackers, dried bread.
When is hospitalization necessary?
If the manifestation of vomiting is observed against the background of other adverse symptoms, you should think about the hospitalization of the child, because food poisoning should be treated only under the supervision of experienced doctors. This is exactly what Dr. Komarovsky advises to do in doubtful situations. Vomiting, diarrhea in a child causes the loss of a huge amount of fluid, which entails dehydration of the body for 2 days. It is quite difficult to make up for her losses, because the baby in this period refuses water and food due to poor health. The most dangerous is the manifestation of such symptoms in children under the age of 1 year. Doctors first cleanse the stomach by rinsing it, and then apply symptomatic therapy to alleviate the condition of a sick child. In the process of such treatment, doctors should be able to determine the cause of the disease and prescribe appropriate medications.
What should parents do? Be sure to contact a medical specialist for therapeutic measures aimed at replenishing the electrolyte composition of the blood and replenishing fluid reserves.