Diarrhea is annoying for children and stressful for parents. In most cases, the problem clears up within a few days, but the best thing to do is to keep the little patient hydrated while he heals. If your child has this bowel disease, you may want to call your pediatrician for advice. In addition, you can use various remedies to stop diarrheal discharges.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Adopting Nutrition Changes
Step 1. Pay attention to foods that appear to be aggravating your child's condition
Since his appetite shouldn't decrease due to diarrhea, you will be able to feed him as usual. However, if you feel that your discharge is getting worse as soon as you eat something, you probably want to cut that particular dish out of your diet until you feel better.
- Try to limit yourself to the foods that she can tolerate without problems and avoid introducing new ones if the problem is still present.
- Children with diarrhea may experience temporary difficulty digesting dairy products, so it would be a good idea to avoid feeding them until they recover.
Step 2. Decrease portions
A large meal is likely to make the problem worse, so you should encourage your child to consume smaller portions at regular intervals throughout the day. Try to feed him 6 times a day to see if this relieves or disappears completely.
Step 3. Try the BRAT diet
By increasing your fiber intake, you could help reduce diarrhea symptoms, so the BRAT diet is an excellent choice. It is a rather frugal diet, consisting mostly of bananas, brown rice, apple sauce and wholemeal toast, all foods that are easy to digest. Some studies have even shown that diarrhea disappears faster when the child eats highly digestible foods. Other equally digestible foods to consider are:
- Pasta.
- Beans.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Mashed carrots.
- Pretzel.
- Salty crackers.
Step 4. Add a cup of yogurt to your child's daily diet
Yogurt can restore the balance of the intestinal flora, helping to stop diarrhea. If there's a yogurt he prefers, try giving it to him as a snack.
- Look for yogurt with live lactic cultures, such as "lactobacillus acidophilus" and "bifidobacterium bifidum".
- He will likely be more inclined to eat it if you allow him to take it off the supermarket shelf. Ask him to choose the flavors he prefers.
Step 5. Consider your daily fat intake
By offering him foods high in fat, you will help him heal. It is especially important if the child suffers from "infantile diarrhea", a chronic form of diarrhea that affects younger people. Here are some healthy options:
- Whole milk.
- Olive oil.
- Cheeses.
- Ice-cream.
Method 2 of 3: Encourage Rehydration
Step 1. Encourage him to drink lots of water
Diarrhea can cause severe dehydration in babies, so it's important to encourage them to drink plenty of water when they're sick. Try filling a bottle of water and encourage your child to take it with them and sip it throughout the day. Arrange to fill it (or ask the teacher to fill it for him) when it is empty.
- Do not give him rehydrating electrolyte solutions unless your pediatrician advises you to do so. They are often only needed if the child begins to lose a lot of fluids.
- Don't give him sports drinks, sodas, or fruit juices. The high sugar content can make diarrhea worse.
Step 2. Offer him some flavored ice
You can also give him one or two popsicles throughout the day to replenish his fluid reserves. Try choosing low-sugar popsicles or making them using special molds. You can fill them with water and add those fresh fruit slices to make them more inviting.
Step 3. Start your day with a bowl of milk and cereal
This is another excellent way to provide your baby with additional fluids to replenish lost fluids and prevent dehydration.
- Allow him to choose his favorite cereals and add half a glass of milk. Encourage him to consume everything.
- However, if you have diarrheal discharge after drinking milk, you may want to eliminate it for a few days.
Step 4. Make a broth or soup
Another way to restore your child's fluid reserves is to have them eat a cup of broth or a serving of soup as a snack or at lunchtime. You can make chicken broth or even a simple soup with pasta or vegetables. Even the salt contained in these dishes can help restore liquids.
Method 3 of 3: Seek Medical Assistance
Step 1. Call the pediatrician
If you notice a sudden change in stool frequency or consistency, it is probably due to diarrhea. Even if you can treat your child at home, you should still consult your pediatrician to find out about the therapy to follow. Diarrhea can result from a food intolerance, infection, or some other ailment that needs medical attention.
Step 2. Consider the possible causes of diarrhea
When it lasts less than two weeks, it is called acute diarrhea. It is a fairly common problem, but it manifests itself in a severe form. It can depend on:
- Inflammatory processes.
- Bacterial or viral infections.
- Use of antibiotics.
- Food intolerances, food allergies or food poisoning.
Step 3. Consider the possible causes of chronic diarrhea
It is less common, but it can manifest itself severely. Typically, it lasts more than two weeks and depends on:
- Dietary factors.
- Infections.
- Inflammatory bowel diseases.
- Celiac disease.
Step 4. See your pediatrician immediately if your child shows signs of dehydration
The problem should improve within 3-4 days. If you don't recover or are experiencing symptoms of dehydration, call your doctor right away. Take him to the emergency room if you can't go to the pediatrician. Signs of dehydration in children include:
- Cry without tears.
- Dry or sticky mouth or tongue.
- Sunken eyes.
- Infrequent urination or dry diaper.
- Lethargy or excessive sleepiness.
- Increased irritability.
- Stun.
- He retched.
- Fever above 38 ° C.
Step 5. Note any severe symptoms
Diarrhea can be accompanied by some severe symptoms that indicate an emergency situation. Take your child to the emergency room or call 911 if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Traces of blood in the stool.
- Vomiting repeated or accompanied by traces of blood or bile.
- Swelling, tenderness or enlargement of the abdomen.
- Paleness with or without small red, round spots on the skin.
- Difficulty getting out of bed.
- Fainting.
- Convulsions.
Warnings
- See your pediatrician if you notice any signs of dehydration or feel like your child's condition is not improving after a few days.
- Never give him antidiarrheal drugs for adults. They can be dangerous for children.
