March 19 2024

HOW TO CARE FOR A CHILD SUFFERING GASTROENTERITIS

Recommendations for caring your child



   The vast majority of acute gastroenteritis heal on their own and do not require the use of antibiotics since they are caused by viruses. In other cases, the disease is caused by microorganisms sensitive to the action of antibiotics, but they are self-limiting, ie heal spontaneously. Paradoxically, the patient is free of the microorganism before if are not used the antibiotics. Only in a small number of cases, the use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics is necessary to fight infection.

   The main purpose and, generally, the only treatment is to maintain a good state of hydration, which can be achieved
     1.Replenishing liquid losses
     2.Providing sufficient liquid for daily needs child's body.

   The administration of intestinal movement-slowing drugs, such as loperamide, does not affect the hydration status of the patient, so there is not a measure recommended for all patients.

   If the patient vomits repeatedly, it is not recommended administering solid or liquid food by mouth. You should expect until the frequency of vomiting decreases to start a trial with small doses of liquid repeated, for example, every ten minutes, offering a dessert teaspoon (5 ml.) with liquid.

    VERY IMPORTANT: For tolerance to liquids and for liquid replacement, use only appropriate rehydration solution containing sodium, potassium, glucose, bicarbonate and water recommended by the World Health Organization. Never use saline, carbonated drinks, tea, coffee or other different liquids to indicated.

   If the patient tolerates liquids, focus on replenishing the losses that have occurred previously and they occur in the course of the next few hours, also using oral rehydration solution

In the event that the primary symptom is diarrhea, you can proceed to administer oral rehydration solution and, in not very intense cases, also rice water (or from carrots) for a period of eight to twenty-four hours.

   Once losses are recovering liquid, you must start giving to the child an appropriate caloric intake and nutritional. The recommended foods include rice, carrots, ripe banana, apple (only the pulp), chicken boiled or grilled, toast bread, boiled fish or grilled, and mashed potatoes.

   Milk and derivatives, including yogurt in any of its commercial forms, do not constitute an appropriate food for the patient with acute gastroenteritis. If the disease reaches a certain intensity or lasts at least five days, it is possible that the child has acquired a transient lactose intolerance and should avoid supplying dairy products for a variable time.
Only in the case of young infants, it is required to continue a milk diet despite gastroenteritis, proceeding to offer the milk diluted with rice water (or carrots). In the case of suspicion of lactose intolerance, milk must be replaced by a lactose-free milk.

   Acute gastroenteritis is commonly an infectious disease. Wash your hands carefully after handling the child. You should warn the other members of the family to do it also, including the patient. This will prevent the direct contagion of other components of the family circle.

Preparing carrot soup for baby bottles:

Place in a pot 2 liters of water with half a kilo of peeled and chopped carrots. Boil the time needed to soften and then again add water (boiled apart) to complete the first two liters. Add a flush teaspoon of table salt and mash well the carrot in the water with the help of electric mixer or potato masher. Now, the carrot soup is finished. Store in the refrigerator, preserve it from light and do not use metal containers because it can darken. Pull after 24 hours and turn to do it again if necessary.

Preparing rice water (mucilage) for baby bottles:

Place in a casserole 1 liter of water with 30 grams of rice. Boil for two hours and replace the evaporated water. Strain the liquid without unground with a colander. Now you have prepared the rice mucilage. Keep it in the refrigerator. Pull the remaining liquid after 24 hours and, if necessary, do it again .

Composition of the oral rehydration solution

For one liter of water:

       - Glucose 13.5 grams
       - Sodium chloride (common salt) 2.6 grams
       - Potassium chloride 1.5 grams
       - Trisodium citrate dihydrate 2.9 grams (before, sodium bicarbonate, 2.5 grams)

 

Note: In most countries, there are different trademarks of pharmaceutical preparations in sachets, ready for mixing with water