By Dr. Celeste Gomez
Q:
Hello Doc! The holidays are here again and I’m afraid my kids might get some sort of diarrhea again from all the parties that we’re scheduled to attend. What do I need to do as first aid treatment for diarrhea? When do I bring my child to the hospital? --- Concerned Dad
A:
Hello Concerned Dad!Diarrhea or Acute Gastroenteritis is a very common disease especially during the holiday season. Having endless christmas parties and reunions also mean infinite exposure to people with viruses or spoiled food due to improper storage. Symptoms include watery or loose stools (brownish or greenish in color) with or without blood streaks, on and off abdominal cramping, vomiting of previously ingested food, headache, and low grade fever. Diarrhea in children should be taken very seriously and should be treated ASAP because dehydration occurs rapidly in infants and children. Here are the first few steps you can do as “first-aid treatment” for diarrhea:
- Give Oral Rehydration Solution: These may be found as a ready to drink liquid preparation or a sachet preparation to be mixed with water. Find one with a flavor that suits your child’s taste and serve chilled. For infants up to 2 years old, give 50-100ml after each episode of watery stools. For those 2 years old and above, you may give 100-200ml after each episode of loose watery stools. For bigger children and adolescents, give as much as they can take. Personally, a natural alternative best for hydration is coconut water or our very own buko juice. It is high in sodium and also has potassium to replenish the body stores. For infants less that 6 months who are on pure milk feedings, you can just continue breastfeeding and giving milk with the same volume as above.
- Give Probiotics: Probiotics are good bacteria that are needed to improve our gut microflora. Giving some probiotics during the duration of the diarrheal episode may help rebuild the microbiome of the gut after a virus or a bacteria has infected it. These may come in granules or in liquid form.
- Give Zinc Sulfate: Zinc Sulfate is a mineral that is very helpful in building the epithelium lining of our intestinal tract. Studies have shown that giving zinc may decrease the chances of having another diarrheal episode in the future.
- Foods to avoid: It is best to avoid foods which are too spicy, too oily and those chunky foods that are hard to digest because our gut and intestines are still healing. Foods such as pears, prunes and dairy products must be avoided as it may promote loose bowel movement. We can start with soft foods such as soups, arroz caldo or congee paired with some crackers. We can also add some fiber like apples and bananas to increase stool bulk.