How to Support Your Child’s Recovery from Diarrhea is one of the most important question present in mind of Parents. If we talk about Diarrhea, Diarrhea is a common problem among children of all age groups, however, diarrhea is also the second leading cause of malnutrition and death among children under five years of age. This is the reason why diarrhea in a child should not be taken lightly as children are easily prone to complications, if the right steps are taken then the child can be saved from complications. So in today’s article, I am telling about some easy ways by which you can help your child to recover from diarrhoea.
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The biggest danger to children from diarrhea is dehydration. So before we talk about the things that you should do, it is important for us to know the symptoms of dehydration.
Your child may be a victim of dehydration if:
- His/her lips are dry and sticky
- He/she is thirsty
- He/She is passing less urine or not
- He/She is not shedding tears when she cries
- His/her skin appears cool and pale
- Show a lack of energy
- If the skin pinch test is positive – try pinching the skin above the abdomen, in front of the chest, near the collarbone or on the back of the hand. In such a situation, the child who is suffering from low dehydration – after pinching the skin, his skin will appear wrinkled and it will take some time for the skin to return to normal.
Dehydration can cause permanent and irreversible damage, including seizures, brain damage, and organ failure. Therefore, treatment of diarrhea should aim to start early so that these complications can be avoided to Support Your Child’s Recovery from Diarrhea. if you want to know about Myths About Diarrhea Treatment read from here.
Very Important Step to Recovery from Diarrhea
It is very important to make up for the loss of water due to loose motion and vomiting. So make sure you give your child enough fluids. Increase the amount of liquids in your child’s diet. Include lots of soups, pulses, juices in your diet. Remember that babies under 6 months of age should be given only breast feeding despite loose motion and vomiting. ORS can be used as an additional measure to meet the lack of water.
The first step in helping your child recover from diarrhea is with ORS or Oral Rehydration Solution. ORS is available in all medical stores and government health centers.
Why ORS?
It not only helps to replace the fluid loss but also brings back the electrolytes lost during loose motion. In this case, water is not sufficient because it does not contain electrolytes. So in this case, only ORS can ensure the recovery of fluids.
If ORS is not available at home, you can take these measures:
Mix a teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt in one liter of water.
Keep in mind that along with the amount of salt, sugar should also not be in excess, it can worsen the condition of diarrhea. Therefore, use the quantity as per instructions.
How much ORS should be given
If your child is under 2 years old:
So you need your child to have at least 1/4 or 1/2 cup of ORS (one cup 250ml) after every loose motion.
If your child is over 2 years old:
So you need to give 1/2 or a cup of ORS to your baby after every loose motion.
Another Recovery from Diarrhea is Probiotics
Probiotics can be given to the baby as probiotics are known to reduce diarrhoea. Frequent loose motions can damage the naturally occurring GUT bacteria and probiotics help replenish them. Probiotics that contain lactic acid bacilli are just right at this point in time.
Another Recovery from Diarrhea is Zinc Supplements
Zinc is essential for children both with or without diarrhoea. However, zinc supplements have been proven to help ease loose motion in children. Talk to your pediatrician about zinc supplements available in the market. Zinc supplements are available in the form of drops for young children and syrups for older children. As per the recommendation of IMNCI, Government of India, zinc supplements should be administered for 14 days as the child has diarrhoea.
It is important to understand that these are just some of the remedies that you can adopt on your own. If loose motions increase in your baby, you should immediately contact your pediatrician and get treatment. At times your child may need to be given some medicines to stop the loose motions.
In conclusion, diarrhea is a common issue among children and can be a cause for concern if not addressed properly. Dehydration is the most significant danger for children suffering from diarrhea, and therefore, it is crucial to keep them hydrated. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is the first and most crucial step in helping your child recover from diarrhea. Probiotics and zinc supplements are also effective in reducing the severity of diarrhea. However, it is essential to seek medical attention if the condition worsens, and the child may need medication to stop the loose motions. By following these simple tips, parents can help their children recover from diarrhea and prevent any complications.
