Diarrhea in a child: causes and methods of treatment. Medicines and folk remedies. Diarrhea in a child - what to do and how to treat it

Diarrhea called frequent, more than 2 times a day, discharge in liquid form.

This happens because the movement of waste products in the intestines accelerates.

Many parents face a similar problem. It causes them bewilderment - what needs to be done if the baby has diarrhea. Some parents wait until everything is over.

Others are beginning to take action, use folk remedies and treat the child medications. You need to know a lot of information about this intestinal disorder so that your baby does not experience complications. First of all, you need to think about the problem - what caused this condition of the baby.

Causes

As a rule, the cause of diarrhea depends on the age of the baby. At any age, babies have special factors, which provoke liquid stools. The problem of diarrhea most often affects young children.

In an infant, it can be caused by the following reasons: the baby’s gastrointestinal tract is developing, perhaps he is teething, or there is insufficient lactose intake.

If the baby is breastfed, there may be a reaction to mother's milk. Mother's milk can be liquid or too fatty. If the mother does not adhere to a special diet, then the milk may contain laxative elements. Diarrhea in a child may occur due to the introduction of breastfeeding for the first time. Artificial formula may cause diarrhea.

How to stop diarrhea in a child is a question that worries many parents. But before answering it, it is necessary to identify external causes that are typical for any age of the child. Diarrhea can be caused by food poisoning, poor-quality foods, or eating vegetables and fruits that have a laxative effect.

1. Very often, diarrhea in a child occurs after taking antibiotics.
2. If your baby is stressed or has a nervous disorder, this can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea occurs due to poor hygiene and can also be caused by unwashed hands or dirty fruit.
3. Diarrhea is often caused by overeating.

In addition to external factors, there may be reasons in internal diseases. For example, diarrhea can be caused by an infection or inflammation of the stomach lining. Diarrhea can be caused by an allergy or gastrointestinal disease. The causes of loose stools can be internal hemorrhoids, cancer, dysbiosis, Crohn's disease, helminths, and kidney failure.

The causes of diarrhea in a child can be a variety of pathologies and characteristics of the body at one or another age of the baby. As a rule, poor hygiene and poor diet are common causes of this disease. Parents should pay special attention to these aspects so that the child does not have health problems.

Depending on the mechanisms and causes, diarrhea in babies varies in different types. Depending on the classification, the doctor will prescribe treatment for the disease:

Clinical characteristics of the disease

Usually, baby diarrhea is yellow. This is the norm and indicates the absence of serious pathologies in the baby.

As a rule, the cause of diarrhea is an upset stomach due to a poor diet. But it also happens that the baby’s stools are of a different color and various impurities can be included in the loose stool.

The child's stool should be carefully examined by parents, this will help them understand the cause of diarrhea.

1. If the stool is light in color, this may mean different causes of the disease.
2. If a child has watery and mucous diarrhea, these are symptoms of intestinal infections or overeating.
3. If a child has bloody stools, then most likely he has an infectious disease.
4. If the stool is white, then it is not dangerous for infants. This is just a reaction to mother's milk. In adult children, white diarrhea indicates hepatitis.

How to stop diarrhea in a child? This is the most pressing question for parents who are faced with this problem. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the causes of intestinal disorder.

Drug treatment

First of all, the baby should be given saline solutions for diarrhea. This includes Regidron and Enterodes. The medicinal mixture is available in sachets.

The contents of the sachet must be dissolved in drinking water. Drug treatment includes glucose solution. If a child has diarrhea accompanied by fever, then he needs to be given medications that contain paracetamol.

If a small child has diarrhea due to a high temperature, then an antipyretic drug must be administered with suppositories or suspensions.

Sorbents for removing toxins are considered the best cure for diarrhea. These include Smecta, activated carbon, Enterosgel, Neosmectin, Polyphepan and Polysorb. At 1 year of age, the child can be given symptomatic tablets for diarrhea, these include Bismuth, calcium carbonate and Imodium. If the child is older than one year, diarrhea can cause a serious illness. In this case, the baby may be hospitalized.

If diarrhea does not have dangerous symptoms and there is no suspicion of pathology, then time-tested folk remedies can help with loose stools. They will indicate what needs to be done to improve the baby’s condition.

To prevent the baby from becoming dehydrated, it is necessary to prepare medicinal solution.

To do this, for 1 liter of boiled water you need to take 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons of soda and the same amount of salt. If the baby has severe diarrhea, then he needs to be given 3 teaspoons of this solution every 20 minutes.

1. Antiseptic preparations from medicinal plants have astringent and anti-inflammatory effects. This includes collections of peppermint, blueberries, chamomile, knotweed, immortelle, caraway, bird cherry and sage.
2. Can stop diarrhea in a child dried chicken gizzard films.
3. You can also try giving your baby decoction of dried pear fruits.
4. Helps in the fight against diarrhea starch solution. To do this, one tablespoon of starch must be diluted in a glass of boiled water; sugar can be added to this solution.
5. You can also give your child infusion of dried pomegranate peel.
6. To stop loose stools, you can try giving rice porridge without salt, which was boiled in water.
7. Helps in the fight against diarrhea congee. This remedy is best for children after 1 year. It is very easy to prepare at home. Pediatricians usually recommend rice water.
8. Mint and chamomile tea will help your child with such a problem. Watery fresh carrot puree will also help with the problem of diarrhea.

Treatment at home should be carried out with extreme caution; all of the above drugs must be given to children over 1 year of age. Typically, diarrhea is the cause of gastrointestinal upset. During sick days, parents need to provide their child with proper nutrition.

When a child develops diarrhea, it is necessary to properly formulate his diet. Doctors recommend that at this time the child be fed in small portions, but often. During diarrhea, food should be chewed thoroughly. It is necessary to exclude animal fats and carbohydrates from the baby’s diet. If you have diarrhea, you must follow a balanced diet. This is considered an important point in the treatment of loose stools.

With this disease, you can eat the following foods: beef, turkey, veal, chicken, wheat bread crackers, unleavened cottage cheese, fish, steamed omelet, water porridge, fruit juices. Soups with this disease must be cooked in low-fat broth; you can add cereal decoctions from semolina, pearl barley, and rice to them. The consumption of pureed meat, egg flakes and meatballs is also allowed.

1. The following foods cannot be included in your baby’s diet: coffee, milk, spicy dishes, fresh vegetables and fruits, fatty and rich soups, salty foods, sweets, ice cream, chocolate, soda.
2. Treatment of loose stools should include several methods. The child must be treated with medications.
3. You also need to adhere to a strict diet. The correct diet must be followed 4 days after the disease.
4. This is necessary for the treatment results to last. Traditional medicine for this disease is auxiliary and optional.

If the baby is not provided with medical care in a timely manner, complications may arise.

Complications

Children's diarrhea must be treated promptly and competently. If the disease is not cured in a timely manner, the baby may be hospitalized. In case of advanced disease, the baby will be prescribed a powerful medicine. As a rule, loose stools are accompanied by a general deterioration in the baby's condition. This disease should not be taken lightly. At the first sign of diarrhea, the child should be seen by a doctor. If this is not done, then the baby may experience complications in the form of seizures, stomach upset, intestinal infection, complications from dysentery. Dysbacteriosis can result in bronchial asthma, dermatitis, chronic gastroduodenitis, proctosigmoiditis and intestinal dyskinesia.

If complications arise, they will have to be treated for a very long time. Any pathology can cause serious harm to the baby. It is necessary to take timely measures to treat diarrhea after the first hours of its occurrence.

Diarrhea cannot be considered harmless. This disease should not be taken lightly. Because this disease can cause an infectious disease that requires immediate treatment. To avoid complications, pediatricians recommend adhering to preventive measures. For this, the baby must be taught hygiene from an early age. Eggs, milk, fish and meat must be thermally processed. It is necessary to limit the consumption of fried and pickled foods. The child’s diet should include baked, boiled or stewed foods. Before eating, you must wash fruits, berries and vegetables. By following these simple rules, you can avoid diarrhea.

Almost everyone has encountered such an unpleasant phenomenon as diarrhea in a child. What is pathology? This is an increased flow of liquid feces. There are many reasons for the pathology, the most important thing is not to let everything take its course, but to take adequate measures. Otherwise, diarrhea can lead to unwanted complications and a significant deterioration in the baby’s well-being.

In this article, we will look at what can be done if the baby begins to have diarrhea, and what treatment methods exist.

Causes

The reasons often depend on how old your baby is. Diarrhea is quite common in infants, and the pathology can be caused by the following factors:

• teething;
• formation of the gastrointestinal tract;
• lactose or enzyme deficiency;
• artificial formula feeding or incorrectly introduced complementary foods;

The cause may also be a reaction to the mother's milk: if she does not follow the diet prescribed by the doctor, the baby may develop diarrhea.

You can also identify the causes of diarrhea that occur in young children, regardless of age:

• problems with the nervous system, stress;
• food poisoning - if the child has eaten low-quality food;
• excessive consumption of vegetables and fruits - almost all of them have a laxative effect;
• frustration after antibiotic therapy;
• lack of hygiene: the child eats with dirty hands, does not wash fruit;
• With frequent overeating, diarrhea also occurs.

Diarrhea can also be a symptom of a serious illness. In this case, you need to consult a doctor as soon as possible, since standard methods will not save you from diarrhea - it is necessary to diagnose the disease and provide adequate treatment.

So, diarrhea can be a symptom of the following diseases:

• allergic reactions;
• various infections;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• inflammation of the mucous membrane;
• haemorrhoids;
• oncological diseases;
• dysbacteriosis;
• worms;
• Crohn's disease.

There is no need to panic ahead of time - most often diarrhea is a consequence of poor hygiene or poor nutrition. However, it is worth seeing a doctor in order to know for sure that your baby does not have serious health problems.

Important: There is such a pathology as bear disease. It can be caused by a stressful situation - for example, if a child is nervous before going to kindergarten, or due to stress associated with an unhealthy family environment. In such cases, the child needs to drink sedative herbs, since this problem is psychological.

Varieties

It all depends on the flow mechanism, as well as the reasons. Let's take a closer look at them.

1. Infectious diarrhea. In this case, the causative agent is an infectious disease. Children under 2 years of age often suffer from such phenomena, especially in winter. The incubation period lasts about 2-3 days, after which the baby may develop vomiting, accompanied by diarrhea. Ultimately, the disease ends with high body temperature, severe headache and general weakness. The duration of the illness is about 7 days.
2. Nutritional. The cause is poor nutrition of the baby. If he has a very poor diet, there are few vitamins in the food, and the food intake is disrupted, diarrhea is quite possible. Another reason why a baby may suffer from intestinal disorders is an allergy to food or medications.
3. Dyspeptic. Occurs as a result of disruption of digestion processes. The cause may be secretory insufficiency of the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Toxic. Diarrhea occurs as a result of poisoning with certain substances - for example, mercury, arsenic, etc.
5. Medication. With long-term treatment with antibiotics, a child's intestinal microflora may be disrupted, resulting in diarrhea. Dysbacteriosis may occur.
6. Neurogenic. It was mentioned above - it arises due to frequent stress, suppressed fears and worries. It's called bear disease.

Intestinal disorder can occur in acute or chronic form. If diarrhea lasts more than three weeks, this means that the pathology has already become chronic. It is necessary to take action as quickly as possible, since diarrhea always leads to dehydration, and this is fraught with unpleasant consequences for the baby.

Diagnostic measures

In order to confirm or exclude the presence of diseases that caused diarrhea, the specialist will in any case prescribe diagnostic measures for the child. They may be as follows:

1. X-ray examination - it is necessary in order to study the rate of movement of certain substances that are administered artificially through the colon.
2. Blood is a mandatory general analysis, and if there is a need to identify specific ailments, then biochemistry is prescribed.

• ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs;
• stool analysis - for dysbacteriosis or helminths;
• coprogram;
• bacterial sowing;
• sigmoidoscopy.

The diagnostic method is selected by the pediatrician based on general data, such as the nature of bowel movements, general condition, and complaints. Only after undergoing research, based on the results of the analysis, can therapy be prescribed.

Treatment methods

It is necessary to start therapy as soon as possible to prevent complications that can be caused by diarrhea. Naturally, if the disease is serious, due to internal causes, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor. External causes that caused diarrhea must be eliminated and therapy carried out in order to remove toxins from the body and improve intestinal function.

First of all, the baby needs to be given something from saline solutions. These include Oralit, Regidron, Gastrolit. A glucose solution is also given, this is necessary in order to avoid dehydration.

If diarrhea is accompanied by fever, then the baby should be given a medicine that contains paracetamol. Children under one year of age are prescribed suppositories due to the fact that they are not able to take a tablet or capsule.

Don't neglect sorbents. They effectively bind and remove toxins from the body, due to which the child’s condition will noticeably improve. Sorbents include white coal, Smecta, Polysorb, Enterosgel, etc.

Specialists for diarrhea prescribe symptomatic medications - these include Bismuth, Imodium, Calcium Carbonate.

If the cause is a serious illness, then the patient requires hospitalization. You need to call a doctor as quickly as possible, and he will develop a further plan of action depending on the general well-being of the little patient.

Therapy depending on the type of disease:

1. Dysbacteriosis. In this case, it is important for the baby to take medications that will restore the intestinal microflora. Such drugs include Linex, Enterol, Acipol, Bifikol. You will also need to take a course of probiotics, as well as bacteriophages.
2. Intestinal infection. In such situations, it is necessary to resort to antibiotics. Among the most effective are Nergam, Nevigramon, Kanamycin, Tienam, Ciprofloxacin, etc. Parents should not miss an important point - they should not prescribe antibiotics to their child on their own, as this can only worsen the situation. The doctor prescribes therapy, depending on the type of infection and the degree of its neglect.
3. Lack of enzymes. If there are not enough enzymes in the child's body, this also provokes diarrhea. In such cases, Panzinorm, Festal, Mezim, Pancreatin, etc. are used.

If diarrhea is accompanied by severe pain, in this case the child can be given antispasmodics - Drotaverine, Spasmomen, etc.

Traditional medicine

If diarrhea in a child is not accompanied by serious symptoms, which may indicate the presence of dangerous pathologies, then you can resort to traditional methods of treatment. All of them have been tried by millions of people and time-tested.

So, if a child has very frequent diarrhea, this may lead to dehydration. In order to avoid it, the parent needs to prepare a special solution (like Regidron):

• 1 liter of water;
• 2 tbsp. Sahara;
• 1 tsp salt;
• 1 tsp soda

The baby should be given water every 15 minutes, at least in small sips.

Let's consider popular, safe and very effective recipes that will help stop diarrhea:

1. Rice water. With its help, you can get rid of excessive gas formation, eliminate stomach cramps, and also stop diarrhea. Prepare as follows: add 40 grams of rice to half a liter of water and cook over low heat for approximately 50 minutes. After the specified time, the resulting broth should be poured into a glass and cooled. Give the child 2 tbsp. every 2 hours. Naturally, if the baby is very small, the portion should be reduced.
2. Pomegranate. Not used for infants. It is easy to prepare the medicine - you need to take a spoonful of the peels of this fruit and pour a glass of boiling water. Then cover with a clean cloth and hide in a dark place for 3-4 hours. Drink 30 grams 3 times a day. It is important to consider that diarrhea cannot be treated with this infusion for more than 2 days.
3. Walnut leaves. You will need one sheet and 200 ml of boiling water. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes, after which you can give it to the patient. The product must be prepared immediately before use.
4. Potato starch. You need to make a solution from it - 1 tsp. starch and 1 tbsp. cold water is thoroughly mixed, after which the solution should be given to the child to drink.
5. Bird cherry. It is also a very effective remedy. You will need 5 bird cherry berries and 300 grams of water - all this needs to be boiled over low heat for about 30 minutes. After cooling, strain - the resulting liquid will save you from diarrhea.
6. Serpentine root. The composition contains tannins - it is they that provide the fastening effect. It is noteworthy that the fact that serpentine root is completely safe for infants has not been proven, so the product should be used with caution. The plant is not toxic. The decoction is prepared as follows: the root must be grated. Then take a teaspoon of the root, add water - 200 ml will be enough. Next, bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately remove the heat and leave to brew.
7. Burnet root. You will need 1 tbsp. chopped root, pour 200 ml. water. Simmer the mixture over low heat for about 25 minutes. Leave to sit for about another 20 minutes. Afterwards you need to strain the resulting broth. Give your child a drink 15 minutes before meals. It is noteworthy that this decoction must be taken even after the general condition has improved.
8. Bananas. When the unripe fruits are crushed into a thick porridge, they can help relieve intestinal upset. Can be used for children of any age - if parents are absolutely sure that the baby does not have an individual intolerance to this product.
9. Potassium permanganate. You can give your baby a weak solution - it eliminates intoxication and also stops diarrhea. The only thing is that potassium permanganate can provoke a gag reflex, so it must be given with caution.

What diet should you follow for diarrhea?

Parents should know how to feed their child correctly to prevent relapse. Many foods tend to provoke stool upset, so they should be excluded from the diet. These foods include foods rich in fiber. You also need to exclude foods that contain large amounts of simple carbohydrates - they cause fermentation in the intestines. Also, the baby will have to give up his favorite treats - ice cream and milk chocolate. In addition to the fact that such food can provoke an attack of diarrhea, it is harmful.

You can eat:

• dried wheat bread;
• light soups with secondary broth;
• boiled eggs;
• lean fish and meat;
• cottage cheese without various additives;
• all kinds of porridges boiled in water.

It is prohibited to eat:

• rich soups with rich broth;
• fresh vegetables;
• fast food;
• pickles and smoked products;
• dairy products;
• soda;
• cakes, chocolates.

Possible complications

The timeliness of seeking qualified help directly determines whether the baby will be hospitalized. If diarrhea appears as a result of external factors, it will not threaten your health. When diarrhea becomes a consequence of any disease, this is fraught with danger to the baby’s health.

If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner and do not start treatment, this may result in the following complications:

• cramps - they often appear as a result of dehydration;
• chronic stomach upset;
• dysbacteriosis, as a result – proctosigmoiditis, dermatitis, asthma;
• dysentery, as a result - pericolitis, arthritis, intestinal bleeding, anemia, etc.

Dehydration - the body loses a large amount of fluid, along with it potassium and magnesium are washed out, and these substances are vital for the normal development of the child’s body.

If diarrhea persists for a long time, it will be very difficult to treat its effects. That is why all pediatricians argue that it is necessary to carry out therapy in a timely manner in order not to harm the child’s health and to prevent the pathology from developing into a chronic form.

Preventive measures

Every parent should know that it is necessary to take preventive measures in order to avoid diarrhea:

• the baby must follow the rules of hygiene;
• give animal products to the baby only in heat-treated form;
• Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables.

If the child is breastfed, then the mother must follow a diet.

If you adhere to all of the above simple rules, you can prevent diarrhea caused by external factors. If diarrhea is accompanied by other symptoms, the baby should be taken to a pediatrician. Only a qualified doctor, after passing all the examinations, will be able to determine the exact cause of diarrhea in the baby, as well as prescribe adequate treatment.

Video: fever with diarrhea and vomiting: what to do?

Diarrhea is a dangerous condition that requires immediate attention. Frequent loose stools, regardless of the reasons that caused them, can threaten the child with dehydration. Therefore, you cannot hesitate in choosing treatment. Folk remedies for diarrhea in children are a collection of proven recipes that can be used effectively at home. When choosing the appropriate method, the diagnosis and age of the small patient should be taken into account. Some of the presented recipes are universal and can be used to treat children of all ages with dosage adjustment.

Before dealing with the question of what to do at home if a child has diarrhea, it is necessary to establish the cause of the ailment. Diarrhea can occur under the influence of a variety of factors. Eating fatty or heavy foods, changing water or climate, new foods, or even emotional arousal - all this can trigger loose stools. In this case, treatment of diarrhea does not imply any specific therapy, and diet correction is sufficient to eliminate the unpleasant symptom.

When choosing what to feed your baby, give preference to healthy and light foods that will be easy to digest. Divide the daily intake into 5-6 doses, do not overfeed.

But often the cause of diarrhea is such serious diseases as viral or bacterial infections, disruption of the intestinal microflora or inflammation of the digestive system. In this situation, it will not be possible to cure diarrhea in children with folk remedies, and medications can only temporarily relieve the symptoms of the disease. Therefore, only the attending physician should be involved in drawing up a treatment regimen. Depending on the diagnosis, he will select approved medications in accordance with the baby’s age and tell you what can be given to the child at home to shorten the recovery period.

Treatment of diarrhea in infants with folk remedies

The younger the baby, the more dangerous loose stools are for him. At home, for diarrhea in children under one year old, it is customary to use rice water and herbal infusions that have astringent properties. Rehydration therapy also becomes a mandatory component of treatment.

1. Homemade solution of Regidron. Since dehydration in infants begins very quickly, in case of profuse diarrhea they begin to give Regidron even before the ambulance or the pediatrician arrives. If you don’t have a bag of powder on hand, you can prepare it at home. To do this, in a glass of boiled water, 1 tbsp. l. sugar and 1 tsp. salt. We take all the ingredients without top. Give the child a few sips of the solution every 10 minutes.
2. Rice water. Sticky rice broth coats the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, providing an anti-inflammatory effect. At the same time, it absorbs excess fluid and eliminates flatulence, reducing intestinal motility. To prepare it, boil 1 s. l. rice in a glass of water for 45–50 minutes. Strain the finished broth and take warm every 2 hours. The dosage for children under one year is 2-3 sips per dose. For children aged 2 years and older, the dose can be increased to 50 ml. The recipe is not used to treat bacterial diarrhea, as this may make it difficult to remove pathogenic microorganisms.
3. Oak bark decoction. To prepare a decoction, use 1 tsp for a small child. bark, boiling it in 250 ml of water for 10 minutes. The finished product is infused for half an hour, after which it is filtered and given to the baby a few sips every two hours. Pay attention to the color of the decoction; if the product is too concentrated, dilute with water before use. For older children, the dosage regimen remains the same, but a more intense infusion is prepared.
4. Chicory. Pour boiling water over dried chicory flowers and boil for 5 minutes. Wait for the product to infuse and cool, then strain. give 1 tsp. after 2–3 hours, for children over three years old, the dosage is 1 tbsp. l.
5. Chamomile tea. The simplest remedy for diarrhea is chamomile decoction. The infusion has a powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect, which quickly relieves spasms in the intestines and suppresses the activity of pathogenic microflora. Warm chamomile decoction is given to an infant every hour, several tablespoons.

Diarrhea (or diarrhea) is an intestinal disorder in which there is loose bowel movement more than twice a day. It occurs due to the acceleration of intestinal function and the passage of its contents. Most parents have encountered this problem and, as a rule, do not know how to treat diarrhea in a child - take appropriate measures, including drug therapy and the use of folk remedies, or wait until the problem resolves itself and the diarrhea soon passes. You need to have enough information about this intestinal disorder in order to cure diarrhea in time and prevent the development of serious complications.

There are quite a lot of factors that can cause diarrhea in a child, starting with an allergic reaction of the body or a disease of internal organs, and ending with various infections. Let's look at the most common causes of diarrhea in children:

Diarrhea can also be caused by other reasons, for example, eating unwashed or expired foods. All these factors negatively affect not only the intestines, but also the entire gastrointestinal tract (GIT) as a whole.

Characteristic symptoms

Most parents immediately panic at the sight of loose stool in their child. But it does not always indicate diarrhea, since when breastfeeding, frequent liquid or mushy stools are normal for the baby. With age, bowel movements become normal. Diarrhea in children and adults is accompanied by thinning and frequent stools.

In addition to loosening the stool, the patient may experience additional symptoms. These include:

• increased gas formation;
• feeling of discomfort in the abdomen;
• change in stool color, appearance of blood, pus or mucus in the stool;
• bouts of vomiting;
• symptoms of dehydration and intoxication of the body.

On a note! The danger of prolonged diarrhea in children is that it leads to dehydration, which can lead to serious complications. Doctors say that even a loss of 10% of fluid in the body is deadly for the baby.

What is the danger of this condition?

Regardless of the cause of diarrhea, this pathological condition leads to an increase in the size of the intestines due to water entering the lumen of the child’s intestine through the intestinal walls. In its turn, the movement of intestinal contents accelerates, and the frequency of stool increases. Delayed treatment or its complete absence can lead to serious complications - dehydration and impaired absorption of nutrients.

When the body becomes dehydrated, the child’s condition worsens greatly, all processes in the body slow down, and the temperature rises. Dehydration may worsen as stools become more intense and large. If diarrhea torments a child quite often, then useful substances leave the body along with feces, and the intestines can no longer function normally and vitamins that enter the body with food are not absorbed.

Diagnostic features

If diarrhea continues for several days without stopping, then the child should be seen immediately by a doctor. Perhaps the cause of this condition was some disease. During the diagnostic examination, the doctor may prescribe the following procedures:

Only after a diagnosis of diarrhea is made, the child is prescribed an appropriate course of therapy.

Treatment options

The basis of any type of treatment is to eliminate the causative factor that provoked the development of intestinal disorder. Therapy consists of taking medications, following a special diet and using traditional medicine. Let's consider each of the methods separately.

Nutrition

In case of diarrhea, it is necessary not only to exclude all harmful foods from the baby’s diet. It is also necessary to normalize your diet. Parents should ensure that the child chews food thoroughly and eats in small portions (often, but in small portions). These measures are effective in treating digestive system disorders not only in children, but also in adults.

Authorized products include:

• freshly squeezed fruit juices;
• crumbly porridges cooked in water;
• boiled eggs or steam omelet;
• low-fat cottage cheese;
• steamed fish, chicken, turkey, veal and beef.
• wheat crackers without spices.

Prohibited foods for diarrhea in children include:

• carbonated drinks;
• various sweets (ice cream, chocolate, cookies, candies);
• crackers, chips, fast food;
• salty, fatty, fried, smoked and sour dishes;
• fresh vegetables and fruits;
• coffee and dairy products.

On a note! The therapeutic diet must be followed not only during the therapeutic course, but for at least another 2-3 months after its completion. This will prevent various problems with the intestines and the entire digestive system.

Pharmacy drugs

As noted earlier, in the treatment of diarrhea, medications are often prescribed, divided into several groups:

Regardless of the type of drug, you should always consult your doctor before use. The child's body is not yet fully formed, so the use of strong drugs can harm it.

Folk remedies

People often use proven traditional medicine to complement traditional treatments. Of course, before using this or that remedy, you should consult a doctor to avoid unexpected consequences.

Table. Recipes for folk remedies for diarrhea in children.

When using folk remedies, even those tested by good friends, you need to be careful. Incorrect preparation or failure to comply with the recommended dosage can lead to serious problems.

Prevention measures

To prevent the development of dysbiosis and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in which the child may experience diarrhea, it is necessary to monitor the personal hygiene and nutrition of the baby. All vegetables or fruits used in the kitchen to prepare a particular dish must undergo preliminary preparation. The same applies to meat, during the preparation of which it is imperative to follow the technology.

If a child has allergies, then make sure that no one gives him or her any allergenic foods. You should get rid of all products of questionable quality; it’s better not to take risks. Potent drugs must be treated with extreme caution (you cannot self-medicate, as well as deviate from the therapeutic course prescribed by the doctor).

Often, diarrhea occurs due to severe stress, so parents should ensure that their baby is always in a good mood and is not exposed to nervous overload and stress. If something makes him nervous, try to get rid of it (for example, a movie or a toy). The combination of all these measures will reduce the risk of diarrhea.

Video - How to stop diarrhea in a child

Diarrhea in childhood is very common, especially in preschool age. Digestive disorders can be caused by dietary errors, infections or diseases of the internal organs. To effectively treat diarrhea in children, it is important to correctly determine the cause.

A child is born with an unformed digestive system: intestinal loops are not formed, fewer enzymes are produced. For this reason, food passes through the gastrointestinal tract faster. The formation process is completed on average by 3-5 years, so the norm of stool varies depending on age.

Loose stools are the absolute norm for children under six months of age who are breastfed. During the first 2-3 months of life, infants empty their intestines after each feeding (6-10 times a day), and the consistency of the stool is liquid.

As the child develops, the intestines are colonized by beneficial bacteria, organs that secrete digestive enzymes develop, so the number of bowel movements increases and the density of the stool increases.

For babies whose diet is dominated by formula, the stool norm is different: the feces are more formed, the number of bowel movements does not exceed 3.

After the introduction of complementary foods (at 4-6 months), children's stool changes. Babies walk up to 2 times a day, the consistency of stool depends on the foods consumed.

After a year, most children switch to a regular diet, so diarrhea is watery bowel movements more often than 5-7 times a day with a pungent odor. Depending on the cause of diarrhea, the color, smell and consistency of stool may change.

Classification of diarrhea in children

There are several types of diarrhea in children:

1. Infectious.

Digestive disorder caused by the penetration of viruses and bacteria into the child’s body (dysentery, intestinal flu, salmonellosis).

1. Toxic.

Diarrhea caused by poisoning with chemicals: mercury, arsenic, household chemicals.

1. Nutritional.

Digestive disorders are associated with dietary habits and may be caused by intolerance to some product.

1. Dyspeptic.

Diarrhea is a symptom of enzyme deficiency in pathologies of the pancreas, small intestine or liver.

1. Medication.

Diarrhea develops after long-term use of medications (usually antibiotics) due to disruption of the intestinal microflora.

1. Neurogenic.

Diarrhea occurs after experiencing fear or stress due to a violation of the nervous regulation of intestinal motility.

Any type of diarrhea can be acute - it occurs suddenly, the symptoms develop rapidly.

Chronic diarrhea occurs due to intestinal irritation; loose stools do not stop for several weeks. The disorder may be caused by diseases of the digestive system or lactose intolerance.

In children's intestines, the mucosa is thin, toxins easily penetrate the circulatory system, so diarrhea is often accompanied by vomiting and high fever. This condition leads to intense fluid loss, especially if the child is less than 3 years old. Rapid dehydration is very dangerous, it disrupts the functioning of the entire body and can be fatal.

Causes of chronic diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea, which lasts several weeks or months with periodic exacerbations, is a symptom of a general disease or pathology of the digestive tract:

• Celiac disease is gluten intolerance.

The disorder is very rare; diarrhea begins after eating foods containing gluten. This vegetable protein is found in wheat, rye, and oats. The disease is accompanied by constant diarrhea and severe gas formation.

• Dysbacteriosis.

An imbalance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the intestines. Develops due to taking antibiotics.

• Lactase deficiency.

Manifested by diarrhea after consuming dairy products. It occurs due to a lack of an enzyme in the body that breaks down milk sugar.

• Non-infectious intestinal diseases (Crohn's disease, duodenitis, irritable bowel syndrome) cause inflammation of the mucous membrane, increase peristalsis, so food comes out very quickly.

Chronic diarrhea leads to impaired absorption of nutrients, decreased intelligence and developmental delays (mental and physical). This condition requires urgent medical treatment.

If you have celiac disease, you must follow a gluten-free diet for life.

Causes of acute diarrhea

Most often, children experience acute diarrhea. Abnormal bowel movements can be caused by a variety of reasons:

• Nutritional features.

The intestinal microflora and immune system of children are very unstable, so diarrhea may appear after eating new foods. Such symptoms are often observed when complementary foods are introduced.

In infants, diarrhea may occur due to food eaten by the mother.

• Medicines.

Diarrhea can be a side effect of certain medications: choleretic drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics. Diarrhea occurs due to the development of dysbiosis, long-term treatment or dosage violation.

• Infections not related to the gastrointestinal tract: sore throat, otitis media, rhinitis.

These diseases are accompanied by the formation of mucus in the nasopharynx, which flows into the stomach and changes the consistency of stool. In children under one year of age, diarrhea often occurs due to teething.

• Food and chemical poisoning.

One of the most common causes of diarrhea in children. Toxic substances enter the body when consuming stale or low-quality products.

• Intestinal infections caused by bacteria and viruses (dysentery, rotavirus, salmonellosis, staphylococcus).

Children attending kindergarten and school are susceptible to such diseases. Infection occurs through contact with a carrier and failure to maintain personal hygiene.

Dr. Komarovsky's comment that diarrhea in itself is not a diagnosis, but occurs as a result of some disease.

Associated signs of diarrhea

Diarrhea rarely occurs as an independent phenomenon; it is usually accompanied by other symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• flatulence;
• abdominal pain, usually cramping;
• the appearance of mucus, blood or undigested food in the stool.

An increase in temperature and vomiting accompanying diarrhea is a sign of penetration of a pathological organism into the child’s body. Symptoms appear 8-12 hours after the onset of diarrhea.

With each bowel movement and vomiting, the child loses from 100 to 300 ml of fluid, moisture evaporates through the skin, which leads to rapid dehydration.

Signs of dehydration:

• weakness, sometimes loss of consciousness;
• convulsions;
• infrequent urination, rich yellow urine;
• loss of shine in the eyes;
• dry mouth and lips;
• rapid heartbeat;
• decrease in blood pressure.

Frequent bowel movements cause irritation of the rectum and anus, and a rash and redness may appear around it.

All colors of mucus: from white to black

With infectious diarrhea, mucus appears in the stool, and its smell becomes very pungent. The cause of diarrhea can be judged by the color of the feces:

• Red

For bleeding of the lower and middle intestines.

• Green

If diarrhea is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, the baby will have green stools.

• Black

This color is characteristic of gastric bleeding.

• Bright yellow

If a child has yellow stool, this indicates dyspeptic disorders.

• White

With enzyme deficiency, white feces appear.

• Bloody feces

The appearance of blood in the stool is a very dangerous symptom that occurs when the intestines are damaged.

How can you treat diarrhea?

Diarrhea in a child is not always a sign of infection or poisoning. If there is no fever, the baby is active, there are no suspicious inclusions in the stool, treatment can be done at home.

You cannot do without professional help if:

• the temperature rose sharply;
• vomiting began;
• the child is very weak;
• there is blood and foam in the stool;
• the stool has acquired an atypical color;
• diarrhea does not stop for more than a day.

Children under one year old deserve special attention. Due to their low weight, they lose fluid very quickly, and dehydration develops very quickly.

If such signs occur, you must contact the infectious diseases department. After examining the child and examining the stool, treatment is prescribed. If a bacteriological or viral nature of diarrhea is suspected, a laboratory examination of stool is performed.

Treatment in a hospital lasts several days and depends on the age, condition of the child and the type of infection.

First aid: what to do to stop diarrhea?

Alimentary diarrhea can be stopped at home. To do this, it is enough to exclude the irritating factor - any food. Loose stools usually disappear after a few hours.

It happens that, against the background of the disorder, the appetite remains at the same level and the child asks to eat. You can offer him a cracker or unleavened cookies with weakly brewed tea.

• fermented milk products;
• fresh fruits, vegetables and juice from them;
• solid food.

The biggest danger with long-term diarrhea is dehydration. To replenish lost fluid, you need to give clean water, weak tea (weakly sweet without lemon), and dried fruit compote to drink after each bowel movement.

If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, the amount of liquid should not exceed 20 ml, but you need to drink every 10-15 minutes.

Infants do not stop breastfeeding. It must be remembered that mother’s milk will not be able to replace the fluid lost by the body, so between feedings you need to pour 5 ml of water into the baby’s mouth.

While waiting for an ambulance, you can give an absorbent agent (Smecta or Activated Carbon). These drugs are not absorbed into the blood, so they are harmless even for babies.

Medicines and preparations for children with diarrhea

Drug therapy for diarrhea in children consists of several areas:

• Restoration of water-salt balance.

For this, use Regidron or Glucosalan. The drug in powder form is diluted in warm water and given in small sips after 5-10 minutes.

• Removing toxins.

Absorbent preparations will cope with this task: Activated carbon (in powder, tablets or gel form), Smecta, Enterosgel. These products absorb not only toxins, but also molecules of other medications, so you need to maintain an interval of 1.5-2 hours between different drugs.

• Levomecitin, Enturol, Furozalidone are used for antibacterial effects.
• Restoration of microflora is carried out with the help of probiotics and prebiotics: Linex, Enterol, Bifiform Baby.
• Normalization of peristalsis.

For diarrhea accompanied by uncontrolled contractions of the intestines, Loperamide or Imodium is prescribed.

If diarrhea is caused by waste products of helminths in combination with symptomatic treatment, antihelminthic drugs (Nemozol, Pirontel) are prescribed.

The type, form and dosage of medications for diarrhea in children is determined by the pediatrician. It is strictly forbidden to use medications intended for adults.

Traditional medicine at home

In addition to basic treatment, you can use proven recipes from unofficial medicine:

Rice decoction for stool consolidation

2 tablespoons of cereal are washed once and poured into hot water (about half a liter).

Cook over low heat for 35-45 minutes. The cooled broth is ground until smooth and given to the child 1-2 tablespoons several times an hour.

Bird cherry decoction

A handful of dry berries is poured with 2 cups of boiling water and simmered in a water bath for half an hour. After cooling, the liquid is filtered and given to the child 20 ml after 2 hours. For children under 3 years old, a teaspoon is enough.

Oak bark decoction

It solves several problems at once: it makes stool denser, eliminates the process of inflammation in the mucous membrane and destroys some microbes. It’s easy to prepare: oak bark is poured with boiling water in a ratio of 1:2 and heated in a water bath for 20 minutes. The cooled liquid should be drunk 50 ml 4-5 times a day.

Rosehip decoction

Contains many vitamins, it is recommended to drink it instead of tea if there are signs of dehydration. It is very simple to prepare the product: pour a handful of rose hips with a liter of water and boil for 7-10 minutes. The container with the decoction is left to infuse for an hour under a warm blanket.

Chamomile tea

Has anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Taking it during diarrhea soothes the inflamed mucous membrane and eliminates discomfort. The plant can be added to regular tea or brewed separately (1 tablespoon per glass of boiling water).

Despite being completely natural, the listed remedies may have undesirable effects, so be sure to consult your doctor before using chamomile.

Nutrition and diet during treatment

It is advisable to make the first day of diarrhea “hungry”, since any food has an irritating effect. As a last resort, it is allowed to give unsweetened crackers or cookies.

Starting from the second day, you can introduce porridge with water (oatmeal or rice), ground dietary meat, vegetable broths, low-fat cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and omelet into your diet. All food must be prepared without adding spices.

For normal diarrhea, such a diet is followed for no more than a week; if diarrhea is caused by an infection, it is continued until complete recovery.

To prevent diarrhea in children, you must strictly follow the rules of hygiene, heat-treat meat and fish dishes, and wash vegetables and fruits with soap.