Diarrhea is a group of digestive tract syndromes caused by multiple pathogens and factors, characterized by an increase in stool frequency and changes in stool shape. It is one of the most common diseases in infants and young children in China, and also one of the main causes of malnutrition and growth and development disorders in children. It is often caused by digestive system diseases such as acute gastroenteritis and indigestion, and may also be caused by liver, gallbladder or other systemic diseases.
1、 Causes of Pediatric Diarrhea
Infectious Diarrhea: Diarrhea caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, with the most common pathogens including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Norovirus, etc. Infectious diarrhea is usually accompanied by symptoms such as fever and vomiting.
Dietary reasons: Children who consume too much indigestible food, such as high fiber foods or spicy and stimulating foods, can easily cause diarrhea. In addition, even healthy food may be contaminated by bacteria or parasites due to improper storage or processing, leading to food poisoning and diarrhea.
Drug reactions: Certain drugs, especially antibiotics, may have adverse effects on the gut microbiota of children, leading to diarrhea.
Allergic reactions: Children's digestive system may be allergic to certain foods, such as lactose intolerance, protein allergies, etc., which can cause diarrhea.
Digestive system diseases: Pediatric intestinal diseases such as gastroenteritis and Crohn's disease may be accompanied by symptoms of diarrhea.
Neurogenic diarrhea: Due to neural regulation disorders, children's gastrointestinal function is disrupted, leading to diarrhea.
Low immunity: Children's immune system has not fully matured and their resistance is relatively weak, making them susceptible to infections from bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, leading to diarrhea.
2、 The hazards of childhood diarrhea
Dehydration: Diarrhea leads to the loss of a large amount of water and electrolytes in children's bodies, especially important electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. If dehydration is severe, it may threaten the child's life. Dehydration mainly manifests as symptoms such as thirst, oliguria, sunken eye sockets, dry skin, etc. It is necessary to replenish water and electrolytes in a timely manner.
Malnutrition: Long term diarrhea can lead to poor nutrient intake and absorption. Damage to the digestive system leads to a decrease in the efficiency of food absorption, thereby affecting the normal growth and development of children. Severe diarrhea may lead to weight loss, muscle atrophy, anemia, and other problems, seriously affecting the physical health of children.
Immune decline: Diarrhea may lead to the imbalance of normal gut microbiota, damage the intestinal mucosal barrier, and further affect children's immune function. This makes children more susceptible to other viruses or bacteria and can lead to other complications.
3、 Preventive measures for childhood diarrhea
Maintaining water and electrolyte balance: Diarrhea can cause children to lose water and have electrolyte imbalances, so it is important to ensure that children have sufficient water intake. Breast milk and clear vegetable soup are good choices. At the same time, according to the doctor's advice, add appropriate amounts of oral rehydration salts or oral rehydration agents to replenish lost water and electrolytes.
Diet conditioning: During diarrhea, children's digestive function will be affected, so their diet needs to be adjusted. A small number of meals is a good choice, which can provide easily digested, low fat, high nutrition foods, such as rice porridge, noodles, bread, cooked vegetables and fruits.
Maintain perianal hygiene: After each baby's excretion, gently wipe the anus and surrounding area with warm water, soft gauze, or wet wipes to keep it clean and prevent skin erosion or eczema caused by bacterial infection. At the same time, change to dry, breathable diapers or cotton diapers to avoid moisture retention.
Observe bowel movements: closely monitor the child's bowel movements, including color, odor, texture, and frequency, promptly detect abnormalities and report to the doctor. In addition, observe changes in the child's body temperature, mental state, and diet, as well as whether there are other symptoms accompanying them, such as vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.
Avoiding cross infection: Pediatric diarrhea is usually caused by infectious diseases, so measures need to be taken to avoid cross infection, maintain personal hygiene for children, wash hands frequently, and regularly clean and disinfect baby utensils, toys, bedding, etc. to prevent infection.
Professional doctors are needed to make judgments and provide medical guidance for children with diarrhea. If children experience symptoms of diarrhea, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner, accept the doctor's diagnosis and treatment advice, and pay attention to cultivating good hygiene habits in children. Ensuring food safety and disinfection measures can help prevent the occurrence of diarrhea in children.