Diarrhea is not uncommon in infants and young children. This gastrointestinal syndrome, characterized by increased stool frequency and changes in stool traits, has a great impact on the baby's health. Severe cases can cause water, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances. The age of onset of children is more common from 6 months to 2 years old, and the incidence can occur all year round, and the incidence is higher in summer and autumn.
·Causes・Diseases・Causes・Su·
1. The digestive tract is immature
Infants and young children have immature digestive systems, insufficient secretion of gastric acid and digestive enzymes, low activity of digestive enzymes, and poor tolerance to changes in the "quality" and "quantity" of food - such as too many new complementary foods and too many quantities. At the same time, infants and young children grow and develop very quickly, and the demand for nutrients is relatively large. Eat more, the burden on the gastrointestinal tract will be heavy. But after all, they are too young, the stability of the intestinal flora is not strong, and they are susceptible to external factors, such as taking antibiotics, so they are susceptible to gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, non-breastfed babies, as well as babies who start to eat complementary foods, may also have diarrhea because food and tableware are not thoroughly disinfected.
2. Infectious factors
In winter, 80% of pediatric diarrhea is caused by viral infections, the most common being rotavirus-induced autumn-winter diarrhea. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Candida albicans can also cause diarrhea. In addition, some common diseases that are susceptible to infants and young children, such as pneumonia, upper respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin infections, etc., can be complicated by diarrhea.
3. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is antibiotic-related diarrhea that occurs after the use of antibiotics. The reason is that the use of antibiotics destroys the normal flora in the baby's intestines, causing intestinal flora imbalance and leading to intestinal dysfunction. At the same time, the intestinal mucosal barrier will be damaged by antibiotics, and digestion, absorption and metabolism will be affected. Remind moms that eliminating the abuse of antibiotics is the key to preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
4. Non-infectious factors
Feeding is irregular, and adding starch and fatty foods to infants too early can cause diarrhea. Some babies may experience diarrhea due to allergies or intolerances to foods such as milk and soy. Suddenly the weather becomes cold, the baby's abdomen is cold, the intestinal peristalsis increases, or the climate is too hot to weaken its digestive function, etc., which can also cause diarrhea.
·Abdominal,diarrhea・Type·Type·
1. Mild diarrhea
Mostly caused by dietary factors and extraintestinal infections, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms. Children will have loss of appetite, occasionally accompanied by nausea, vomiting or milk leakage and other symptoms; the frequency of stool is significantly increased, the amount of stool is small, yellow and yellow-green, with a sour taste with white flaps and foam; tears and urine are reduced, the eye sockets are slightly sunken, and the skin elasticity is slightly worse.
2. Severe diarrhea
Most often caused by infections in the intestine. In addition to severe gastrointestinal symptoms, children also have obvious dehydration manifestations, such as no tears, significant reduction or even non-urine, sunken orbits, poor skin elasticity, water, electrolyte disorders and systemic poisoning symptoms, such as fever, irritability, mental atrophy, drowsiness, and even coma, shock, etc.
3. Physiological diarrhea
It is common in infants under 6 months of age, often accompanied by eczema, with no symptoms other than increased stool frequency, which does not affect growth and development. Baby's appetite is good. After the addition of complementary foods during the milk change period, the stool gradually turns normal. The latest medical research has found that such diarrhea may be a special type of lactose intolerance.
·Science,Learning・Nursing·Theory·
1. Adjust your diet
If your baby's diet is strictly restricted or fasted during diarrhea, it will affect his growth and development. Feeding should be given moderately to meet the child's physiological needs, shorten the course of the disease, and promote recovery. If vomiting is severe, it is necessary to temporarily fast for 4 to 6 hours, but do not abstain from water. Breastflotors do not have to stop breastfeeding. Artificial feeding can suspend complementary foods and feed a small amount of milk or rice soup as needed. After the diarrhea has stopped, continue to give a normal diet. For slightly older babies who have been "weaned", yogurt, skim milk, etc., can be fed, and the number of diarrhea is reduced to give a liquid and semi-liquid diet, and gradually transition to a normal diet.
2. Medication care
The disease is self-limited and lasts about 3 to 7 days (except for severe diarrhea). Antidiarrheal agents are generally not used. Antidiarrheal agents can increase your baby's absorption of toxins, which can worsen diarrhea. Intestinal mucosal protectors repair and maintain intestinal mucosal barrier function, such as the commonly used montmorillonite dispersion (Smectar). Preparations such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus help regulate the intestinal microenvironment. Whether to use the drug, what kind of drug to use, should follow the doctor's advice.
3. Care of diaper dermatitis
Diarrhea babies are prone to dermatitis. Wash your baby's buttocks with warm water after each bowel movement and gently dry to keep the skin clean and dry. Localized skin redness can be applied with 5% tannic acid ointment or 40% zinc oxide oil and massaged for a while to promote blood circulation. For patients with local skin erosion or ulceration, the skin of the buttocks can be directly exposed to air and sunlight by the method of exposure, and after drying, apply a local ointment. Baby girl with the urethral opening close to the anus, care should be paid to the cleaning of the perineum to prevent urinary tract infections.
·Heavy,Visual·Pre-defense··
1. Pay attention to hygiene
Most pathogenic microorganisms are transmitted into the digestive tract through contaminated food, water, or contaminated hands, toys, and daily necessities, so it is important to treat contaminated diapers and clothing well. Wash your hands before and after touching your baby, and wash your hands according to the seven-step handwashing method to ensure the health of your family and baby. The room is often ventilated, and in winter, the room can be ventilated in turn, so that the baby avoids the ventilated room to prevent colds. For children over 1 year old, it is necessary to educate them to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet, cut their nails frequently, and cultivate good hygiene habits.
2. Reasonable feeding
Promote breastfeeding, avoid weaning your baby in the summer, and gradually add complementary foods on time. The principle of addition is from thin to thick, from one food to a variety of foods, and each addition of a complementary food requires close observation of the baby's stool. If your child does not experience intestinal discomfort, add other complementary foods a few days later.
3. Strengthen physical exercise
Take your baby outdoors appropriately, pay attention to weather changes, and prevent your baby from getting cold or overheating.
Children are the most cherished and precious "delicate flowers" of parents and mothers, and caring for the intestines of infants and young children is a key step to help babies grow up healthily.