Diarrhea is a common condition in children, diarrhea can cause dehydration, electrolyte loss leading to malnutrition, even death if not properly cared for and treated. Therefore, when a child has acute diarrhea, the first thing to do is to assess the dehydration and rehydrate properly.

Dehydration in children occurs when the body is significantly depleted of water and electrolytes at varying levels. Symptoms and signs of dehydration in children include thirst, lethargy, dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output, and when the child is severely dehydrated, alarming symptoms such as rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and shock appear. Diagnosis of dehydration in children is based on history and clinical examination. Treatment involves oral or intravenous fluids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

If dehydration is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it will lead to severe dehydration. The most dangerous complications of severe dehydration are circulatory collapse, low blood pressure and high risk of death. Therefore, everyone needs to have a good understanding of this condition to have early treatment, minimizing the dangerous complications that may occur.

Acute diarrhea causes a heavy burden of disease and is a major cause of death in children under 5 years old. To minimize the consequences of acute diarrhea, it is necessary to clearly identify the cause and have a timely treatment regimen.