Get relief for your children’s diarrhea medicine with safe and effective medicine options. Choose the right treatment for their well-being.
Symptoms of diarrhea in children:
We usually use the words ‘diarrhea’ and ‘poor stool’ interchangeably. However, in medical terms, a soft or thin stool does not mean that diarrhea has occurred. Three or more loose stools in a day are usually called diarrhea.
Breastfed babies’ stools are naturally somewhat soft and sticky. That’s not diarrhea. However, if your child has loose stools more often than usual, it is also considered diarrhea.
Signs of dehydration in children:
Diarrhea causes a lot of water and essential salts to escape from the body. When this deficiency is not met, dehydration occurs. And if this dehydration goes too far, it can lead to death. So the first treatment for diarrhea is to rehydrate. The main symptoms of dehydration are:
- Dry mouth
- Feeling thirsty
- Dry or itchy eyes
- Dry mouth and lips
- Dark yellow, strong-smelling urine
- Decreased urination (less than 4 times in 24 hours)
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling tired
Fewer symptoms are seen in children under 5 years of age. These symptoms are relatively serious, so it is important to take the child to the doctor immediately. Symptoms include:
- Increased breathing and heart rate,
- Tears do not fall from the eyes, even if you cry.
- The soft part of the front of the scalp is sitting, and
- Slouching
Causes of diarrhea in children:
The most common causes of diarrhea or loose stools include:
- Bacterial attack or infection in the stomach. It is also called gastroenteritis. It usually resolves within a few days.
- An attack by a virus called norovirus
- Food poisoning is also a common cause of loose stools or diarrhea.
Other reasons that can cause diarrhea or loose stools are:
- Side effects of medicines- Read the instructions that come with any medicine to see what the side effects of the medicine are.
- Allergy to certain foods or intolerance to certain foods
- Celiac disease
- Covid-19
Home remedies for diarrhea in children:
You can usually treat diarrhea in children at home. The most important thing in this case is to drink plenty of fluids and eat food to avoid dehydration.
1. Treatment of dehydration in children with diarrhea.
The key to treating diarrhea is to correct the body’s water and salt deficit. Therefore, in cases of diarrhea, the child should be given plenty of fluids and nutritious food in addition to adequate saline.
After each bowel movement, children under 2 years should be given 50–100 ml of liquid, children between 2 and 10 years should be given 100–200 ml of liquid, and children above 10 years should be given as much liquid as they can eat.
2. What should children eat if they have diarrhea?
- Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed the baby. If the child vomits, you can feed them little by little.
- Liquid drinks can include chira water, rice starch, or canned water. You can add a little salt to the rice flour.
- Give small sips of water between meals for babies who are on formula or solid food.
- Feed the baby every three to four hours. It is better to eat a little food at a time rather than give too much food at once.
- Prepare and feed baby formula as per instructions. Do not make a thinner formula and feed the baby.
What not to eat if you have diarrhea:
There is no basis for saying that giving a certain food will cure a child’s diarrhea. For example, there is a common belief that a diarrheal patient can eat nothing but white rice and chickpeas. This idea is not correct. All types of nutritious food should be eaten in a clean environment, even if the bowels are thin. But in case of diarrhea, avoid feeding the child fruit juice, soft drinks, etc. bought from the market. Because feeding these can make diarrhea worse.
3. Diarrhea medicine:
The natural cessation of diarrhea typically takes 5-7 days, but it is important to treat the dehydration it causes right away. In most cases, it is possible to get rid of diarrhea through treatment at home. Following are the medicines for diarrhea:
- Food Saline: It is generally advised to give the child an upper age-appropriate amount of food saline after each bowel movement. Even if you don’t have food saline at home, you can prepare food saline at home. Apart from this, chira water, rice starch, or canned water can also be given. You can add a little salt to the rice flour. If you feel nauseous, try to feed little by little.
- Zinc tablets: Studies have shown that zinc tablets can reduce the duration of diarrhea by a quarter. As per the advice of the doctor, the child can be given 20 mg of zinc tablets or syrup for 10–14 days.
- Paracetamol: Paracetamol can be taken in cases of stomach discomfort. Before giving the medicine to the child, read the instructions that come with the medicine carefully, and you must give the correct amount of medicine according to the age.
- Loperamide-like drugs: Doctors may prescribe loperamide-like drugs to stop loose stools for a few hours in an emergency. However, the drug should never be used in children under 12 years of age. It can cause health damage.
Along with children’s diarrhea medicine, the child should also be fed nutritious food. Malnutrition is one of the causes of diarrhea in children, and due to diarrhea, various nutrients leave the body. Therefore, infants below six months of age should be breastfed, and older infants should continue to eat nutritious food. However, it should be remembered that severe dehydration may require hospitalization and intravenous saline injection.
Medicines that cannot be taken in cases of diarrhea:
- Children under 12 should not take anti-children’s diarrhea medicine.
- Do not give medicines containing aspirin to children under 16 years of age. Check whether the word ASPIRIN is abbreviated under the name of the medicine.
- Do not take any antibiotics or laxatives without your doctor’s advice.
What to do to prevent the spread of diarrhea in the family:
In cases of loose stools or diarrhea, the patient should get adequate rest. On the one hand, it will help you recover faster, and on the other hand, it will also play an important role in stopping the spread of diarrhea.
Keep the child at home for at least two days, even after the diarrhea is gone. Do not send the child to school or play in the field. Otherwise, this thin stool, or diarrhea, can spread to others. What to do to prevent the spread of diarrhea:
- Make sure to wash your child’s hands frequently with soap and water.
- Wash clothing or bed sheets that have come in contact with the toilet separately in hot water.
- Clean faucets, doorknobs, toilet seats, flush handles, and surfaces that may come into contact with germs daily.
What not to do if you have diarrhea:
- Do not share children’s dishes, knives, spoons, towels, or clothes with anyone.
- Do not put the child in the pool or swimming pool until 2 weeks after the symptoms go away.
children’s diarrhea medicine:
In conclusion, when it comes to children’s diarrhea medicine, it is important to prioritize safe and effective options to alleviate symptoms and promote recovery. Consult with a healthcare professional to determine the appropriate medicine for your child’s specific condition and age. Follow dosage instructions carefully and ensure proper hydration and nutrition during diarrhea episodes. Remember that medicine should be used as part of a comprehensive approach that includes rest, fluid intake, and appropriate dietary adjustments. Monitor your child’s condition closely, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or persist. By choosing the right children’s diarrhea medicine and providing comprehensive care, you can help your child feel better and support their overall well-being.
Diarrhea in children: when should I go to the doctor quickly?
If any of the following symptoms occur during diarrhea, seek medical advice without delay. Serious symptoms of diarrhea are:
- Passing blood or sticky mucus with the stool,
- Severe abdominal pain,
- The diarrheal condition is not improving.
- Not urinating once in 12 hours,
- Dehydration, whose symptoms are mentioned above,
- Fever for more than 48 hours with diarrhea, meaning body temperature above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, and
- Cold hands and feet of the child and spots on the skin.
These indicate a serious condition, so it is very important to start treatment with a doctor’s advice as soon as possible, along with home remedies.
Dr. Ima Islam
Head, Medical Content, Assisted Health
Education Dhaka Medical College