How to add water to children when they have diarrhea

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Ngo Thi Oanh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Diarrhea is a common condition in children, diarrhea can cause children to become dehydrated, lose electrolytes leading to malnutrition, even death if not properly cared for and treated. Therefore, when a child has acute diarrhea, it is important to first assess the state of dehydration and conduct proper rehydration.

Diarrhea is a symptom that can occur due to dysfunction of digestion, absorption and excretion of the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea is a sudden increase in the amount of fluid in the stool, manifested by the passage of loose stools, more than 3 times in 24 hours. Children have unstable colon function, so some children can have bowel movements 5-8 times a day, each time passing a little stool, soft or slightly loose is still normal. Therefore, to determine if a child has diarrhea, other factors must also be considered, such as:
Sudden increase in bowel movements Change in consistency and solidity of stools and increased fluid in stools Change in color and texture of stools, such as mucus or blood, Acute diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts less than 14 days, while 14 days or more is persistent diarrhea.

The causes of diarrhea can be divided into 4 main groups:
2.1. Bacterial infections Intestinal infections caused by pathogens:
Virus: in which Rotavirus is the leading cause of disease in children Bacteria: in our country, E. coli is the leading pathogenic bacteria, standing the second is Shigella Parasite: Entamoeba histolytica is the main causative agent of amoebic dysentery. There are also Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium. Extraintestinal infections: respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, sepsis...

2.2. Drug-induced diarrhea Related to antibiotic and other drug use in children
2.3. Food allergies Some foods often cause allergies in children such as cow's milk protein, soy protein,...

2.4. Other less common causes Gastrointestinal disturbances. Inflammatory bowel disease caused by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Surgical diseases (intussusception, acute appendicitis), vitamin deficiency (niacin), heavy metal poisoning.

When a child has diarrhea, parents need to do the following things right away:
3.1 Give the child more to drink. Feed the child more often, for a longer time, or squeeze milk into a cup and then give it to the child to drink if the child cannot breastfeed. Oresol to prevent dehydration and electrolytes . Currently, Oresol has many types with different volumes (mixed in 200, 250, 1000ml of water) and different flavors for children to drink easily. Parents should note that Oresol preparation must follow the instructions on the package, need to use a suitable measuring device, wash hands before preparing Oresol and use clean utensils to store it. The reconstituted Oresol solution is for 24 hours use only. When giving Oresol to children, pay attention: For children under 2 years old, give each small spoonful 1-2 minutes apart. Older children can be given sips from a cup. If the child vomits, wait 10 minutes then drink more slowly. For example, give each spoonful 2-3 minutes apart. If there is no Oresol, it can be replaced with other types of water such as salted porridge, rice water, coconut water, fresh fruit juice (no added sugar) Do not give children sugary soft drinks, carbonated drinks, etc. canned fruit juice.

3.2 Continue to feed children Many parents see that their children have diarrhea, so they have the mentality to stop eating or limit food, leading to malnutrition and worsening diarrhea. Parents need to continue to maintain and gradually increase their children's daily food intake, without restricting children to eat, should be divided into many small meals. If the baby is still breastfed, continue to breastfeed. Feed your child a variety of nutritious foods such as meat, fish, eggs, vegetable oils, and animal fats. Food should be thoroughly cooked, soft to make it easier for children to eat. Children should eat more fruit. Note to avoid giving children foods that are high in fiber and cause indigestion such as squash, bamboo shoots, corn, and beans. After the child's diarrhea stops, still give the child 1 extra snack a day for at least two weeks, if the child is malnourished, maintain the snack until the child reaches normal weight. It is necessary to ensure food hygiene and safety when preparing food for children.

3.3 Zinc supplementation for children Give zinc to children as soon as possible at the onset of diarrhea because zinc reduces the duration and severity of diarrhea.
Dosage as recommended by the Ministry of Health:
10 mg/kg/day (< 6 months) x 10-14 days 20 mg/kg/day (> 6 months) x 10-14 days 3.4 Absolutely do not arbitrarily give the child anti-diarrheal medicine, antibiotics or any other medicine 3.5 Take the child to the nearest medical facility immediately if any of the following signs are present Passing loose stools several times within 1 or 2 hours Vomiting Very much thirst, dry lips, sunken eyes, crying without tears Poor eating, quit drinking High fever Bloody stools Child is irritable or lethargic difficult to wake Child does not get better after 2 days of home treatment.

In addition, in order to prevent diseases that young children often get, parents should pay attention to nutrition to improve children's resistance. At the same time, add supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... snacks and less digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
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