What to do if children have diarrhea in summer

Children have not grown up yet, their internal organs are not full, and their spleen and stomach are weak. In summer, children like to eat ice cream and drink cold drinks, and some rural children even drink raw water directly. Summer is a season suitable for the breeding of various bacteria and viruses, and children themselves have poor resistance. Therefore, many children are prone to acute gastroenteritis, which manifests as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and even nausea and fever. So, what should we do if children have diarrhea in summer?

1. What to do if your baby has diarrhea - Be careful about lactose intolerance in diet

When a baby has diarrhea, the food he eats should follow the pattern of from less to more, and from thin to thick. At the same time, because of intestinal damage and poor digestion of lactose, there is a risk of "secondary lactose intolerance". Lactase can be used to alleviate symptoms, shorten the course of the disease, and prevent the baby from developing secondary lactose intolerance, which prolongs the overall duration of diarrhea. For children who no longer rely on milk as their main food, they can also stop consuming dairy products. If your baby has severe diarrhea, vomiting or other problems, you can temporarily fast and seek medical attention.

2. What to do if your baby has diarrhea - replenish fluids to prevent dehydration

The most common risks of diarrhea in babies are dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, especially in young babies. If the baby does not vomit and can drink water on his own, you can give him more milk or use oral rehydration salts to avoid dehydration. If your baby vomits frequently, cannot eat, and shows signs of dehydration such as no tears when crying, dry mucous membranes, and oliguria (no urination for 4 consecutive hours), you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

3. What to do if your baby has diarrhea - Don't give your baby antibiotics yourself

Generally speaking, watery stools in babies with diarrhea are mostly caused by viruses or non-invasive bacterial infections, which account for the majority of diarrhea patients (about 70%) and usually do not require antibiotic treatment. However, if there is a large amount of mucus, pus and blood in the baby's stool during diarrhea, it is necessary to go to the hospital for testing in time. The doctor will choose the most appropriate and sensitive antibiotic based on the baby's clinical manifestations and test results. Parents should not take medicine on their own.

4. What to do if your baby has diarrhea - Use probiotics appropriately

Intestinal infections and medication use may destroy the normal intestinal flora, leading to symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort such as diarrhea and diarrhoea in babies. Probiotics help restore the ecological balance of the flora and inhibit the growth of foreign pathogens. Therefore, the rational use of probiotics can also help babies recover from diarrhea symptoms.

In addition to the above care, you should also prevent infection in your daily life. Contact with pathogens may cause diarrhea in your baby. Parents and their babies should wash their hands frequently. If a friend playing with the baby has diarrhea and it is proven to be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, then parents should also pay attention to whether the baby has such symptoms.