The most common causes of diarrhoea in children are viral or bacterial infections. These cause the release of poisonous substances in the intestines.
Diarrhoea in children, as in infants, can be very dangerous. If left untreated, it can lead to excessive water loss, which in some cases requires the intervention of a doctor.
Diarrhoea is often accompanied by vomiting and fever - this leads to de-mineralisation and dehydration. Therefore, problems of diarrhoea in infants should be consulted with a doctor; in older children, home remedies can be tried to alleviate it.
If diarrhoea lasts longer than 3 days , a doctor should be consulted.
The most common causes of diarrhoea in a child include:
- infection: viral, bacterial,
- infection by parasites,
- allergy, food intolerance,
- food poisoning,
- metabolic disorders,
- stress.
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What are some home remedies to relieve diarrhoea in a child?
- massage - gently massage your baby's abdomen in a clockwise circular motion,
- warm compresses - you can place a warm heating pad on your baby's abdomen,
- teas - diluted black or green, blackberry leaves, blueberries, clover, dill,
- carrot soup - boil carrots for a long time, then blend with boiling water and add some unrefined salt, serve in small amounts,
- blueberries - heated or dried - the child should chew them for a long time, it is also possible to make a broth of blueberries (3 tablespoons of dried blueberries should be boiled in 500 ml of water, for 10 minutes),
- natural carbon preparations,
- salt and glucose solution - 1 teaspoon of salt, a cup of orange juice, 4 tablespoons of cane sugar are added to 1 litre of water.
During the period of diarrhoea, heavy, large portions of food should be omitted . Rice gruel, boiled potatoes, white bread, small amounts of apple and banana are usually given.
During diarrhoea, food should not be given:
- fizzy drinks,
- milk and milk products,
- fat,
- eggs,
- technologically processed products.
The treatment of diarrhoea in children of bacterial origin, involves the inclusion of antibiotics in the therapeutic management.
A breastfed infant may have infrequent stools (6 to times a day) - this should not be confused with diarrhoea.
