Know a little about “Medicine” | Is it reliable to use oral rehydration salts to replenish fluids for children with diarrhea?

Uncle Wang's child who was in kindergarten had diarrhea, so he hurriedly took the child to the hospital to give him some fluids. The pediatrician told him that he didn't need fluids for the time being and prescribed oral rehydration salts for the child. Uncle Wang was a little confused: Is it reliable to let the child drink salt water when he has diarrhea?

There are many causes of infectious diarrhea in children, among which viral infection, especially rotavirus infection, is the most common. The first principle of treatment is to prevent and correct dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and acid-base balance, and start rehydration at the beginning of diarrhea.

It is recommended to use oral rehydration salts (III) to prevent dehydration. Mix with water according to the ratio in the instructions for oral administration. After each diarrhea, a supplement should be given. For children under six months old, 50 mL once, for children between six months and two years old, 100 mL once, for children between two and ten years old, 150 mL once, and for children over ten years old, take as needed until the diarrhea stops. If the degree of dehydration worsens, the dosage should be increased.

If the child cannot tolerate oral rehydration salts, or the dehydration does not improve or even worsens after oral rehydration, he should go to the hospital for medical treatment in time for intravenous rehydration. In addition, it should be emphasized that antibiotics are not required for diarrhea caused by rotavirus.