DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms. A child can be infected through the consumption of contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene.

How will I know if my child has diarrhea?

Diarrhea in children presents as passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day (or more frequent passage than what is normal for the child).

What are the most prevalent risk factors associated with diarrhea?

These risk factors are:

• Poor hand hygiene
• Consuming contaminated food and drinks
• Children who are malnourished

What happens when a child gets diarrhea?

In diarrheal states, the normal function of the body is disrupted. Diarrhea occurs when the contents in a child’s digestive system move so fast that the intestines do not have enough time to absorb the fluids, or when the digestive system produces excess fluid, resulting in loose and watery stools.

A number of causes and circumstances can lead to diarrhea in children and these include:

• bacterial infections (e.g., E. coli and salmonella – common causes of food poisoning)
• viral infections (e.g., Norwalk-like or rotavirus)
• parasite infections (e.g., Giardia)
• medical conditions that affect the stomach and intestines, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Celiac disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• food intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) or food allergies
• surgery, such as after abdominal surgery or gallbladder removal surgery

What are the symptoms of diarrhea in children?

Children with diarrhea may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Fever
• Loose stools

When should I consult a doctor about my child’s diarrhea?

If your child has any of these symptoms, consult a doctor right away. These symptoms are:

• Lethargy / unconsciousness, restlessness
• Sunken eyes
• Unable to drink or drinks poorly
• Drinks eagerly, thirsty
• Skin pinch goes back very slowly (≥2 seconds)

What are the available treatment options?

The treatment options include:

• Rehydration with oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution or intravenous (IV) fluids in cases of severe dehydration
• Zinc supplements – to reduce duration of diarrhea
• Nutrient-rich food such as fruits and vegetables

How is diarrhea prevented?

Diarrhea can be prevented through the following:

• Access to safe drinking-water
• Handwashing with soap
• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
• Good personal and food hygiene
• Vaccination for rotavirus, cholera, typhoid

What are the possible complications of diarrhea?
Diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and if left untreated might lead to death.

How can The Medical City help you?
The Medical City has a complete roster of competent physicians who can assess, diagnose, and treat diarrhea.

For more information, you may contact

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Ground Floor, Podium Building, The Medical City
Tel. No.: (632) 988-1000 / (632) 9887000 Loc. 6174/7876

References

• World Health Organization (Diarrhoeal disease. (2017, May 2). Retrieved June 3, 2018, from http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease)
• Tintinalli, J. E., Stapczynski, J. S., Ma, O. J., Cline, D., Meckler, G. D., & Yealy, D. M. (2016). Tintinallis emergency medicine: A comprehensive study guide. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.