Diarrhea is the passage of watery stools, usually at least three times in a 24 hour period. However, it is the consistency of the stools rather than the number that is most important. Frequent passing of formed stools is not diarrhea. Babies fed only breast milk often pass loose, "pasty" stools; this also is not diarrhea.
The main causes of diarrhea are poor personal and food hygiene and lack of clean drinking water. It is the responsibility of government to support the community in tackling these basic problems.
What are the possible causes of Diarrhea in children?
Diarrhea may be caused by infection (such as gastroenteritis) or malabsorption problems, when food isn′t taken in through the gut properly (such as food intolerance, celiac disease and cystic fibrosis).
Diarrhea causes rapid depletion of water and sodium both of which are necessary for life. If the water and salts are not replaced fast, the body starts to "dry up" or get dehydrated. If more than 10% of the body′s fluid is lost death occurs.
Severe dehydration can cause death.
Despite many advances, diarrheal diseases and the resulting dehydration are responsible for about 2.2 million child deaths every year. Of these, approximately 50% are due to watery diarrhea and occur either because of lack of access to ORS and/or health facilities or because of incorrect case management (home or health facility).The remainder are accounted for by persistent diarrhea (approximately 35%) and dysentery (approximately 15%).
Diarrhea is caused by bacteria or viruses. Children who are malnourished suffer much more; in turn, diarrhea weakens children and makes them more malnourished. Diarrhea is also a major cause of child malnutrition.
During diarrhea your child loses water and salts from the body. This is called dehydration.
What treatment should be provided in case of dehydration?
To prevent too much liquid being lost from the child′s body, an effective oral rehydration solution can be made using ingredients found in almost every household. One of these drinks should be given to the child every time a watery stool is passed.
Ideally these drinks (preferably those that have been boiled) should contain starches and/or sugars as a source of glucose and energy, sodium and preferably some potassium.
The following traditional remedies make highly effective oral rehydration solutions and are suitable drinks to prevent a child from losing too much liquid during diarrhea. Breastmilk/Gruels (diluted mixtures of cooked cereals and water)/Carrot Soup /Rice water/coconut water/fresh fruit juice without pulp/butter milk with salt and sugar.
A very suitable and effective simple solution for rehydrating a child can also be made by using salt and sugar, if these ingredients are available.
Prepare ORS at home.
Making a 1 (one) litre solution using Salt, Sugar and Water
Ingredients:
•one level teaspoon of salt
•eight level teaspoons of sugar
•one litre of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled
5 cupfuls (each cup about 200 ml.)
Method:
Stir the mixture till the salt and sugar dissolve.
|
Sign In
Sign Up
Good Health Good Life ® Resources
