DIARRHOEA

Diarrhoea is a change in the consistency of the stool to being abnormaly loose or fluid and increase in the frequency of stools more than is normal for the age.
It is commoner and more severe in children below 5yrs of age.

Management of most cases is aimed at preventing and correcting dehydration and treatment of cause.

When a child passes one loose stool, it should be assumed that dehydration will set in even if the child looks well at the particular time.

Thus the mother or caregiver should start the following at home:

(1) continue brea.st feeding, if the child still brea.st feeds.

(2) prepare ORS or SSS (if ORS is not available)

[ ORS = Oral Rehydration Solution, SSS = Salt Sugar Solution ]


(3) use only cup and spoon to administer the fluid. Use of feeding bottle can lead to infection or over-hydration, so it's discouraged.

*HOW TO MAKE ORS

_get the satchet of oral rehydration salt and empty it into a litre of water. And shake.

HOW TO MAKE SSS

_get 1litre or 1bottle or 2 soft drink bottles of water

_add 1level teaspoon (3ml) of salt (1.8-2.4) to the water.

_add 10 level teaspoon or 5 cubes of sugar (25g) to the water.

_shake the solution (mixture)

i.e
1L of water + 1 teaspoon salt + 10 teaspoon or 5 cubes of sugar = SSS

[if the source of water is not trusted,then boil the water and allow to cool before use. The constituted ORS or SSS should be used within 24hrs. Discard after 24hrs and prepare another one if there's need for more]

HOW TO GIVE THE FLUID

The fluid is given at 10ml/kg/loose stool.

i.e 10ml times the child's weight = volume of fluid to be given for every loose stool made by the child.

Get the required volume and give the child at rate 1 spoon every 1-2 mins or as much as the child wants.

If child vomits,wait for about 10mins and give slowly.

Increase feeding rate and improve diet.

If child is on lactose containing infant formula then switch to non-lactose containing formula for few days allowing time for the diarrhoea to subside.

TAKE THE CHILD TO HOSPITAL IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCURS:

* Weakness
* Diarrhoea persists
* Vomiting persists
* Blood in stool

If ORS or SSS is not available, give any of these:

* Green coconut water

* Rice water + salt (added to the rice water)

* Garri water + salt (added to the garri water)

* plain water

Avoid carbonated drinks,fruit juice etc they can worsen diarrhoea by osmotic effect.

NEVER give anti-diarrhoea drug to children.

Zinc and vitamin A maybe given for 10-14 days.

PREVENTION

* Keep good personal and home hygiene

* proper handling of child's feces.

* Use properly treated water,esp for drinking.

* Avoid the use of feeding bottles.

* Avoid overcrowding or smoking in the house.

* install mosquito net on the windows,doors and beds. Use mosquito sprays.

* Balanced diet.

Adult can still use ORS or SSS during diarrhoea episode.
Kindly Bookmark this Post using your favorite Bookmarking service: