[Medical Q&A] If a child has diarrhea and is dehydrated, can he recover by drinking more water?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Huang Lei, deputy chief physician, Fifth Medical Center, PLA General Hospital

Not all "water" can effectively prevent children from diarrhea and dehydration; even some "water" may aggravate the condition if drunk indiscriminately!

[This is an ineffective hydration behavior]

(1) Boiled water: If children only replenish water by drinking boiled water or purified water during diarrhea, it will not only be difficult to absorb, but it will also easily lead to water intoxication and cause edema in children.

(2) Warm water with high sugar concentration: During diarrhea, try not to give your child water containing sugar, such as soda (including cola), sports drinks, sugar water, and undiluted fruit juice. These drinks contain high concentrations of sugar, which will absorb water in the body into the intestines, which can worsen the child's diarrhea symptoms.

(3) Sports drinks: Various sports drinks sold on the market emphasize that they are rich in electrolytes and can quickly replenish the body's lost water, so they are often used as a source of water during diarrhea. In fact, the osmotic pressure of sports drinks is relatively high. If the diarrhea symptoms are already very serious, drinking sports drinks will only make the child's symptoms worse.

【Scientific method of hydration】

(1) Rice soup: When children have diarrhea and dehydration, rice soup can be used to replenish body fluids. Rice soup is a hypotonic solution that can reduce the risk of osmotic diarrhea. This traditional method of rehydration is convenient, simple, economical, and tastes good, so children are usually happy to accept it.

(2) Oral Rehydration Solution III: Oral Rehydration Solution III is a solution recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of acute diarrhea and dehydration. Compared with boiled water, diluted fruit juice, diluted soft drinks or diluted refreshing drinks, Oral Rehydration Solution III is more effective in correcting dehydration caused by diarrhea. The glucose, sodium, potassium and water contained in this liquid can effectively prevent and treat mild dehydration. When using, it should be diluted according to the instructions and fed in small amounts and multiple times.