When a child has diarrhea, this is the first aid the parents must do

Diarrhea is a digestive disorder characterized by a change in the shape and consistency of loose to runny stools, and an increase in the frequency of bowel movements that are more than usual, namely three or more times a day.

Although diarrhea is a health problem that is often found, especially in children, this disease is still one of the health problems in Indonesia. In the world, diarrhea causes 1.5 million deaths each year, especially in children.

Symptoms and causes of children's diarrhea

Apart from changes in stool consistency and frequency of bowel movements, diarrhea can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite and dehydration. The cause of diarrhea depends on how long the diarrhea lasts, whether it is less than two weeks (acute diarrhea) or more than two weeks (chronic diarrhea).

Possible causes of acute diarrhea in children are:

Gastrointestinal infections. Viruses are the most common cause of diarrhea in children, but they can also be caused by bacterial or parasitic infections.
Food poisoning
Use of antibiotics
Food allergies

Chronic diarrhea is usually caused by:

Dietary factors, such as food intolerance
Parasitic infection
Inflammatory bowel disease(irritable bowel disease)

What to do when a child has diarrhea

Most cases in children who have acute diarrhea are caused by viruses. What can be done as first aid when a child has diarrhea?

There's no need to panic and there's no need to rush him to the hospital. Treatment focuses on rehydration by providing fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration.

Keep drinking and eating

If the child is still breastfeeding, then continue to breastfeed him. Breast milk should be given more frequently than usual to replace fluids lost when the child has diarrhea. If the child is no longer breastfeeding, provide nutritious intake for him.

Water is a great substitute for fluids, but it doesn't contain salts and electrolytes, so simply adding water is not enough. You can help maintain electrolyte levels in the body of a child with diarrhea by providing nutritious foods in the form of soup for sodium and juice for potassium.

Salt sugar solution

To replace lost body fluids due to diarrhea, you can also provide a solution of sugar and salt that is easy to make at home. The trick, dissolve one liter of water with six teaspoons of sugar mixed with half a teaspoon of salt. You can also provide a ready-to-use ORS solution which is very easy to obtain. Give this solution every time the child has a bowel movement.

If your child has diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, start giving him a little at a time, one teaspoon (5 ml) for five minutes, then increase the amount slowly. After that, if the child is really no longer vomiting, the amount of fluid does not need to be limited.

With patience and encouragement, most children get enough fluids without the need for fluids through an IV. However, children who have diarrhea accompanied by severe dehydration may need intravenous fluids.

Recognizing the dangerous symptoms of dehydration in children

Dehydration is one of the complications that can occur due to diarrhea. If not treated immediately, it can lead to severe dehydration which is very dangerous. This can lead to seizures, brain damage, and even death. Recognize the signs of dehydration in children and immediately rush your child to the hospital if there are symptoms: