What should I do if my baby has diarrhea? —— Parents must keep some tips on the prevention and treatment of infectious diarrhea!

As the temperature gradually rises, babies like to eat cold or raw food to cool off, but some babies then develop diarrhea, and some even have fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and other symptoms. Parents are very anxious about infectious diarrhea. The following is some knowledge about the prevention and treatment of infectious diarrhea, parents must keep it in mind!

1. What is infectious diarrhea?

If your baby's stool characteristics change, such as loose stools, watery stools, mucous stools, or bloody stools; or if the frequency of bowel movements increases, more than 3 times a day, diarrhea may be the cause.

Infectious diarrhea refers to diarrhea caused by pathogenic microorganisms. Pathogens include viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, among which viral infections, especially rotavirus infections, are the most common. In summer, bacterial infections are the main cause.

Infectious diarrhea can occur throughout the year, with the peak incidence, prevalence and outbreaks in summer and autumn.

2. Clinical manifestations of infectious diarrhea

Clinical symptoms of infectious diarrhea in children usually appear within 24 to 48 hours of infection and may vary depending on the type of pathogen and individual differences in the child.

1. Diarrhea: The main feature of infectious diarrhea in children is diarrhea, with frequent loose or watery stools, sometimes with a foul odor, blood or mucus.

2. Abdominal pain and discomfort: Infectious diarrhea in children is often accompanied by abdominal pain and discomfort, which may manifest as colic, tingling or dull pain.

3. Vomiting: Infection with certain pathogens can cause vomiting in children, leading to fluid loss and dehydration.

4. Fever: Infectious diarrhea in children may be accompanied by fever. Fever is one of the common symptoms of infection.

5. Dehydration and electrolyte and acid-base imbalance: Severe infectious diarrhea can lead to dehydration and electrolyte and acid-base imbalance in children, manifested by symptoms such as thirst, decreased urine volume, poor skin elasticity, and mental depression.

3. Treatment measures for infectious diarrhea

1. Prevent and correct dehydration

Children lose body fluids and electrolytes when they have diarrhea. Timely replenishment of fluids and electrolytes is the key to preventing and correcting dehydration. Oral rehydration salts III can be taken orally.

2. Pay attention to diet conditioning

High-sugar, high-fat and high-crude fiber foods are not recommended. Infants and young children who are breastfed should continue breastfeeding, and those who are formula-fed with lactose intolerance can choose low-lactose or lactose-free formula milk. For older children, there is no need to strictly restrict their diet, and the calorie supply should be guaranteed as much as possible.

3. Rational use of drugs

It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and use antibiotics or other anti-infective drugs to treat bacterial infections according to the doctor's advice. Montmorillonite powder, probiotics and zinc supplements can also be used for treatment.

IV. How to prevent infectious diarrhea

Infectious diarrhea is a preventable disease. Appropriate preventive measures can significantly reduce the incidence of such diseases. The main measures include:

1. Food hygiene: Ensure that children eat safe food and avoid eating raw and undercooked food. Provide children with safe drinking water, such as boiled water.

2. Pay attention to personal hygiene and environmental hygiene: Parents should educate their children to wash their hands frequently and develop good hygiene habits.

3. Promote breastfeeding

4. Vaccination: Vaccination with rotavirus vaccine is the most effective way to prevent rotavirus enteritis.