Causes of Diarrhoea
Generally, common infections due to viruses, bacteria or parasites can cause diarrhoea in children. Moreover, many other conditions such as illness (inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, food sensitivity (lactose intolerance, certain medications (antibiotics) and consuming excess fruit or fruit juice can also cause diarrhoea.
Signs and Symptoms Diarrhoea:
Give your toddler energy dense foods such as soft mung dal khichadi with a little ghee, curd rice, suji porriadge. If your toddler refuses to drink ORS, offer popsicles made with ORS to your child.
Loose and frequent stools
Cramping tummy pain
Fever
Loss of appetite
Feeling tired
Weight loss
Dehydration
Diarrhoea goes away in few days with proper care but sometimes excess fluid loss can result
in dehydration of your kid. Therefore, it is important to replace the fluid depending on the severity of diarrhoea.
How to care for your toddler with diarrhea?
Give your child more fluids to keep him or her rehydrated. Ask him or her to take small frequent sips instead of big gulps.
Offer your child an ORS (oral rehydration solution) to compensate the fluid and salt loss due to diarrhoea. You can also give clear fluids or commercially available ORS drinks which come in various flavours and hygienic packs.
Maintain your child’s regular diet with mild food and try to avoid spicy and fried foods. Try to include more starches, fresh fruits and vegetables in your child’’s diet as they help to form solid stool.
Include foods rich in potassium such as banana, carrots, potato
Contact your doctor if you observe:
Signs and symptoms of dehydration (dry mouth, crying without presence of tears, decrease in urination, and increased thirst)
Blood or mucus in stool
Weight loss
Multiple vomiting episodes, fever, or abdominal cramping along with diarrhoea
Diarrhoea that lasts longer than 2 to 3 days
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