Generality
Diarrhea in children is a rather frequent gastrointestinal disorder, which can be caused by factors of various origins and nature.
Diarrhea affects children of both sexes and of any age equally, from infants to school-age children.
Fortunately, in most cases, diarrhea in children is a very annoying problem, but one that can be easily solved.
In any case, diarrhea should never be underestimated, as it could be the symptom of even very serious underlying diseases.
Causes
The triggering causes of diarrhea can be many and of the most varied nature. Among these, we remember:
- Infections, usually caused by bacteria (such as salmonella, shigella, etc.), but which in some cases can also be caused by viruses;
- Intestinal parasites;
- Food allergies or intolerances;
- Taking medications, such as antibiotics
- Congenital or acquired malabsorption;
- Gastrointestinal disorders of an inflammatory type, such as, for example, Crohn's disease;
- Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.
As you can see, the causes that can favor the onset of diarrhea range from the mildest disorders up to very serious pathologies, such as, for example, neoplasms. It is precisely for this reason that diarrhea in children is a symptom that should not be underestimated.
Methods of contagion and prevention
If diarrhea is caused by bacterial or viral infections, or by parasitic infestations, these can spread and be transmitted from one individual to another in different ways. For example, contagion with the microorganisms responsible for the onset of diarrhea can also occur in the field living in contact with infected family members.
In other cases, however, the infection can occur if the most common hygiene rules are not respected. However, diarrhea in children due to poor personal hygiene is much more prevalent in developing countries than in developed ones.
To prevent diarrhea in children caused by infections, it is generally sufficient to follow some simple guidelines, such as:
- Wash the baby's hands thoroughly before meals (or their own if the baby does not feed himself);
- Wash your hands well before preparing meals;
- Thoroughly wash the fruits and vegetables before giving them to the baby;
- Cook the meat intended for the child's consumption well;
- Do not wash the bowls of pets in the same sink in which they wash their food (in fact, animals can sometimes favor the transport of pathogens responsible for diarrhea).
Symptoms and Complications
In truth, it would not be correct to speak of "symptoms of diarrhea", this is because diarrhea in children - as well as that in adult patients - usually constitutes itself a symptom deriving from an underlying pathological condition.
However, it is not uncommon for symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain and cramps;
- Loss of appetite;
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea and vomit;
- Presence of blood or mucus in the stool
- Loss of body weight;
- Fever.
The intensity of these symptoms, as well as the type, can vary according to the cause that triggered the diarrhea in the child.
In addition, diarrhea in children can cause a large loss of water and minerals, especially when it occurs in association with vomiting. This considerable loss of hydrosaline can lead to complications such as dehydration, the consequences of which can be serious.
Therapy
Since diarrhea is a symptom triggered by other underlying pathological conditions, it is clear that the identification, and therefore the treatment, of the primary cause that caused the disorder is fundamental.
For example, in the event that the diarrhea is caused by bacterial infections, the doctor may decide to prescribe the administration of antibiotic drugs. If, on the other hand, the diarrhea is caused by parasites, the doctor will opt for the prescription of an anti-parasite therapy.
In the event that diarrhea in children is triggered by a viral infection (intestinal flu), the infection usually tends to limit itself and the administration of antiviral drugs is not required.
In any case, in the treatment of diarrhea in children, it is essential to give the child plenty of fluids, to replenish the water and mineral salts lost during bowel movements. However, in the majority of cases, and especially in very young children, water it is not sufficient to restore the saline equilibrium and it is therefore necessary to resort to the administration - orally in the mildest cases and parenterally in the most serious cases - of special saline rehydrating solutions.
Furthermore, the intake of lactic ferments (such as, for example, Enterogermina®) whose task is to promote the restoration of normal intestinal bacterial flora may also prove useful.
In some cases, moreover, the doctor may deem it necessary to administer intestinal adsorbing drugs, or drugs that inhibit intestinal secretion, such as acetorphan, also known by the name of racecadotril (Tiorfix®).
The use of intestinal motility inhibitors - which are widely used to treat diarrhea in adult patients (such as, for example, loperamide) - is contraindicated in pediatric patients, as it could cause serious side effects.
In any case, in case of diarrhea in children, it is essential to immediately contact your pediatrician who, based on the severity of the disorder, the symptoms associated with it and depending on the age of the child, will implement the therapeutic strategy which best suits each case.
Diet
To help the diarrhea go away in children, it may be necessary to make some small changes in their diet. These changes substantially depend on the age of the child affected by this disorder and the severity of the latter.
Usually, if the diarrhea is mild, the child can continue to eat normally, taking care to eliminate foods such as fruit, vegetables and dairy products, to which the administration of oral rehydrating solutions can be added.
In very severe forms of diarrhea, on the other hand, the feeding could be completely suspended. While in infants the doctor might advise to dilute the milk with water or, in the most serious cases, to stop feeding altogether.
In any case, it is best not to do your own thing and always ask for the advice of the pediatrician, who will provide all the information about the foods that the child can eat while suffering from diarrhea.
