Diarrhea: this helps your child – baby and family

The younger the child, the more dangerous diarrhea can be. Pharmacist Ralf Schlenger explains what helps acute and preventive

Toddler with diarrhea: what helps?

Summary:

  • With high fluid loss, diarrhea can lead to dangerous dehydration, especially in young children – parents should see their child with a doctor if there are signs or other symptoms
  • It is important that affected children drink enough. In addition to water and unsweetened tea, special electrolyte solutions from the pharmacy can compensate for the losses
  • Proper hygiene and rotavirus vaccination prevent diarrhea

Diarrhea in children is not only unpleasant – it can also be dangerous: the younger the child and the greater the loss of fluid, the more so. Therefore should Parents know, then what to do. Important: If in doubt and with accompanying symptoms such as colic-like abdominal pain, vomiting and fever, always go to the pediatrician. Likewise, if several, voluminous or very watery stools occur over a day.

Pharmacist Ralf Schlenger explains what counteracts water and nutrient loss, soothes the intestine and prevents diarrhea again.

1. Replace losses

Young children have a much higher proportion of fluid in the body than adults. In the case of diarrhea and vomiting, they lose a relatively large amount of water and blood salts. This can quickly lead to dangerous dehydration. Warning signs are dry mucous membranes, hardly any wet diapers, sunken eyes, great thirst, but also weariness and restlessness. Don’t let it get this far! Offer the child drink plenty, such as still mineral water, fennel or chamomile tea. Electrolyte-glucose mixtures are more effective because they are precisely tailored to the child’s water balance from the Pharmacy. The powder is prepared with fresh tap water. The child gets the solution in sips, best chilled because of the salty taste. Use the product only for a short time and pay close attention to the package insert.

2. Maintain the intestine

Compensating for fluid loss is the basic treatment. In addition, some agents can reduce the duration of diarrhea if used early. Apple pectin can bind toxins and form a protective film on the irritated intestinal wall. Chamomile extract can have a mild anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect. Furthermore, some probiotics support intestinal healing: preparations with a type of yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii) or certain lactic acid and bifidobacteria (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) are said to help regenerate the intestinal flora. Some preparations are also approved for prevention, for example for traveler’s diarrhea. The general rule is: get advice on the selection and use of suitable preparations in the pharmacy.

3. Prevent

Not only when traveling – cook it, fry it, peel it or forget it! Food for children should always be heated particularly well, fruits and vegetables washed thoroughly – even if they are peeled. Regular hand washing is important because many diarrhea pathogens are transmitted through smear infection. Incidentally, common pathogens in children are rotaviruses. The Robert Koch Institute’s Standing Vaccination Committee recommends vaccination against rotavirus in the first six months of life.

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