Food poisoning in a child is far from uncommon, and especially in the hot season (a little less often in the fall). I did not have time to look back - the baby immediately grabbed something with his dirty hands, as a result of which diarrhea began. What is food poisoning in a child, what types are there, why does it happen, what measures are taken to take - this is what the article will discuss.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning is an indigestion caused by the use of poor-quality foods and the ingestion of poisons or toxins from food. Doctors call intestinal poisoning, caused by bacteria and viruses. The most common infections are salmonellosis, dysentery, escherichiosis, yersiniosis, campylobacteriosis.
Types and causes of food poisoning
Food poisoning is conditionally divided into 2 groups:
- food poisoning itself, which occurs after eating foods containing toxic or poisonous substances. In this group, poisoning with mushrooms or poisonous berries can be attributed. And poisoning with chemicals that fall into the products by negligence.
- PTI (foodborne toxicosis) is a non-communicable acute illness. It occurs when it enters the children's body along with food of various bacteria (Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Proteus, etc.)
The cause of PTI is not so much the microorganisms themselves as toxins - toxic substances that are formed as a result of their vital activity or death. Typically, IPT is in the nature of a group disease and is characterized by an instant, short course.
Food poisoning occurs most often in the summer and autumn. In summer, usually children become infected through products that are not refrigerated and infected with pathogenic microbes, which in warm conditions begin to multiply rapidly. And in the fall of a child, danger lies in wait if the fruits and vegetables consumed are unwashed or contain a large amount of nitrates. Microbes can enter food from dirty hands, toys, or dirty dishes from sick animals. It happens that rodents and flies that have visited food also bring them in. Microbes quickly multiply under favorable conditions in food (sufficient humidity and temperature), releasing toxic substances - toxins. It is they that cause the symptoms of poisoning.
Food poisoning in a child can be caused by a variety of foods. In summer, the most dangerous are dairy products and confectionery, not subjected to heat treatment. Often there is also poisoning by bananas and other fruits (mainly if they are poorly washed). Particularly favorable conditions for microbes in fish, meat, sausage, cottage cheese, kefir, jelly, creams, eggs, etc. If the products are warm, the danger increases, and the cold slows down the growth of bacteria.
Kids under 3 years of age are more susceptible to food poisoning (more than 50%). Poisoning is very dangerous, especially in such young children, because they can lead to disastrous consequences. Therefore, you need to recognize the signs of poisoning as soon as possible and provide the child with timely assistance.
Symptoms
An accurate diagnosis of intestinal infections can only be made by a doctor based on the clinical picture and laboratory tests (determination of the titer of antibodies and pathogen in the vomit and feces in venous blood).
Food poisoning in a child can be suspected by some of its symptoms. If the baby complains of abdominal pain, refuses to eat, becomes lethargic, he is worried about diarrhea and vomiting (often after the vomiting the temperature rises), you need to immediately take up treatment. And before the arrival of the doctor, you can provide first aid.
Food poisoning: what to do before the doctor arrives?
Before the pediatrician arrives or before the ambulance arrives, try to persuade the child to go to bed, play games, read, turn on cartoons, because the less the baby will move, the less chance of complications. It is not necessary that the room is hot, the child cannot sweat - his body is already losing water. It is also desirable, regardless of age, that the child walks on the potty, as in the case of an infectious disease this will protect the remaining family members from infection.
So what are the steps to take?
1. Drink plenty. Due to indigestion and vomiting, the baby loses a lot of fluid. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the water balance. To do this, it is good to use ready-made powders (rehydron), diluting them in water. This water-salt cocktail will perfectly make up for fluid loss and prevent dehydration; you can alternate it with warm tea, compote, rosehip broth, carrot-rice broth. You need to take them 1 tablespoon (tea or dining room - depending on age) every 10 minutes. A large volume of fluid is not absorbed by the baby’s intestines and the fluid will immediately come out with loose stools.
2. Gastric lavage. If no more than 2 hours have passed since the ingestion of the food that caused the poisoning, it is necessary to give the child a gastric lavage. To do this, give him drink drinking water (16 ml / kg of weight - after 2 years). And then press on the root of the tongue, causing vomiting. After the successful completion of the procedure, a sorbent (enterosgel, smecta, microsorb, polyphepan or activated carbon) will give a good effect. If greens, blood or mucus appears in the stool, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic.
Please note: vomiting can not be caused by poisoning with household chemicals (since the liquid will go back, causing burns to the esophagus and breathing problems) and when the baby is unconscious or the cause of intoxication is unknown. In this case, the doctors will take care of the baby, having washed the stomach with a probe. And before they arrive, the child can be given vegetable oil: a teaspoon for children under 3 years old, dessert - up to 7 years old and a tablespoon - over 7.
3. Cleansing enema . In case of poisoning, it is advisable for the baby to put a cleansing enema (but this can only be done after consulting a doctor, because not with any problems with the tummy this treatment method can be used!). In this case, you need to use water a little cooler than room temperature. The baby should be laid on the left barrel and greased with the cream the tip of the enema, then carefully enter it and slowly release the water. When the enema was pulled out, you need to squeeze the buttocks of the child and hold it for a while. After an enema, it’s also good to give the baby some kind of sorbent.
4. With an increase in temperature, the condition of the child will be relieved by an antipyretic agent (but not candles, but syrups or tablets).
5. Easy nutrition. Adjustments should be made in the menu. The main rule is not to force to eat if the child does not want to. He needs to give food in small portions (50 ml) every 2 hours. Mashed semi-liquid dishes (mashed potatoes cooked on the water, boiled vegetables, cereals, fish soufflé, viscous rice without milk) are optimal.
6. Vitamins. After the baby recovers, ask the pediatrician to choose a complex of vitamins for the child. After all, he needs to make up for the loss of useful substances and rather make up for everything.
What can not be done?
Do not give painkillers, as abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea can be signs of various diseases that require immediate surgery. And when removing the pain, it will be problematic to make the correct diagnosis.
You can not put ice or a heating pad for pains on the baby’s stomach - this can cause complications of an attack of pancreatitis, developing appendicitis, etc.
You can not drink the baby with a solution of potassium permanganate or use adult drugs for diarrhea - the beneficial microflora of his intestines will suffer.
In young children, problems with the tummy occur quite often. But intestinal infection is a preventable problem. And in order to insure the child from such troubles, one should pay more attention to the quality and purity of products in the children's diet.