what to give 4 year old for diarrhea

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A child has diarrhea when they pass three or more than watery stools a day, which can often be a crusade of alarm and business concern. However, it is possible to accept constructive action against diarrhea with the proper knowledge of symptoms and data about treatment. Treating diarrhea consistently, equally well as seeking the assist of healthcare professionals, can reduce the run a risk of diarrhea developing into a serious ailment or illness.

1. 1

   Check for symptoms of viral infection. In that location are many causes for diarrhea in children, but the main crusade is often a viral infection, such as rotavirus. Viral infections are oft accompanied by many other symptoms including headache, stomachache, vomiting, and fever.^[ane]

   • Diarrhea, especially caused by viral infection, often lasts between v and fourteen days.^[2]
   • Check your child'south temperature with a medical thermometer to run into if they have a raised body temperature, which is ofttimes another sign of viral infection.

2. 2

   Check the frequency of bowel movements. Many treatments and indicators of severity are tied to how ofttimes your child has a bowel motion. Once you lot begin treating your child's diarrhea, bowel movements should become less frequent and stool should become less watery.

   • The BRAT treatment is meant for those who are having watery bowel movements every four hours. However, this dietary treatment is non ideal for young children.

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3. 3

   Expect for signs of dehydration. Although non always a high risk in children with mild diarrhea, many children risk becoming dehydrated while having severe diarrhea due to the amount of fluids lost. Identifying the signs of aridity equally soon as they begin to emerge will help you seek the all-time possible handling as early as possible.^[three]

   • Look for signs of dizziness, a dry out or sticky oral cavity, dark yellowish or little to no urine, and few to no tears when crying.^[iv]
   • Astringent dehydration can crusade serious health problems, like seizures and brain damage. Seek immediate medical intendance if you notice signs of severe aridity in your child. These may include lethargy; dry, cool, pale or mottled skin; fainting or confusion; and rapid heart rate or rapid animate.^[v]

4. four

   Check the side effects of your child's medication. If your kid regularly takes medication, or has been taking medication recently due to some other illness or ailment, check the medications side-effects and see if they include diarrhea. If so, consult your child'due south physician for the best class of action.^[six]

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1. ane

   Involve your child's pediatrician. Contact your pediatrician immediately if y'all are concerned or have questions well-nigh your kid's land. Keep an centre out for other symptoms that may signal serious affliction while your child has diarrhea, such every bit: high fever (over 102 F), dehydration, blood in stool, fungus in stool, blackness, tar-like stool, or frequent vomiting. ^[seven]

   • If you are treating your child's symptoms and they are not improving within a couple of days or are getting worse, make an appointment to run into your pediatrician as soon equally possible.
   • Go on in mind that diarrhea is the torso's process of removing infection and that infections need to run their course. Although your kid should not exist failing in health, it may still take a few days to run into improvement.

2. 2

   Prepare for your child's doctor's appointment. Fix for the engagement with your child's doc by reviewing the length and qualities of their illness. Go on notes of how long your child has had diarrhea every bit well as how many bowel movements they have a day.

   • Find out what the color and consistency of your child's stool is besides every bit if information technology contains blood or fungus.
   • Continue a note of the other symptoms your child has, like fever or vomiting, as these may be signs of other infections.^[8]

3. three

   Avoid over the counter medications. Avoid giving your child over the counter anti-diarrheal medications as they are generally meant for adults and tin cause other complications inside children.^[9]

   • Do not give your child whatever medication for diarrhea unless it has been prescribed by your doctor.

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1. one

   Nurse your baby often. One of the larger concerns of infants who have diarrhea is dehydration. Nursing your babe more often than usual will supply them with the fluids, calories, and nutrients they volition need to become healthy and stay hydrated.^[10]

   • Offer each breast to your babe for at to the lowest degree one to ii minutes every ten to fifteen minutes until symptoms have reduced, or, if yous aren't breast feeding, use formula and a bottle.^[11]

2. ii

   Increase the amount of bottle feedings if you lot use formula. Increase the amount of bottle feedings to brand upwards for lost nutrients and liquids in both newborns and infants. The amount of nutritional supplementation a baby might need depends on their size and historic period, for case, 1 fl oz. for newborns and 3 fl oz. for 12-month olds at each actress feeding.^[12]

   • If y'all are uncertain of the extra amount your babe needs consult your healthcare professional.

3. 3

   Feed them familiar semi-solid foods. Introduce semi-solid foods back into your child's diet if they have eaten them in the past. Foods like mashed bananas or potatoes are high in nutrients and tin can aid resupply infants who have diarrhea.^[13]

   • Cereal with milk is another way to innovate nutrients and liquids back into your baby's diet.^[fourteen]

4. 4

   Consult your doctor about an oral rehydration solution (ORS). Inquire your physician or healthcare professional about an ORS if you are concerned your baby is not getting enough liquids from breastfeeding or formula. ORS is a special rehydration solution and is offered at many drug stores and pharmacies (most of them stop in "lyte").^[15]

   • Most ORS exercise not requite babies the amount of nutrients they need and are therefore not meant as a dietary replacement, simply a hydration supplement. Be certain to return to formula, breastfeeding, or semi-solid foods one time you lot come across improvement.

5. 5

   Protect sensitive areas. Diaper rashes are common with babies who have diarrhea. Launder your baby's lesser after each bowel movement, pat dry with a towel, and employ an ointment or zinc oxide paste to avoid skin irritation.^[sixteen]

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1. one

   Offer lots of fluids. Keeping enough extra fluids down is the near of import during periods of diarrhea. Consuming lots of fluids will aid your child keep up with the fluids they are losing during their bowel movements. A liquid just diet is recommended at the onset of moderate or astringent diarrhea, with foods slowly existence introduced back into their diet.^[17]

   • Clear liquids are the most helpful. However, patently water does non replace lost minerals. Attempt to supplement liquids with an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replenish lost minerals and electrolytes.
   • If keeping liquids down is hard encourage them to accept small sips or suck on ice chips frequently to avoid dehydration.
   • Avoid refined sugars and juices. Avert giving your kid fruit juices, sodas, or sweetened sports drinks, as they are known to loosen stool.

2. 2

   Feed your child small, frequent, banal meals. Feeding your kid small and bland meals oftentimes volition aid them avoid whatever irritation from overeating besides equally aid soothe their stomachs. Feed your kid near six small meals a day as opposed to three larger meals to keep a nutrient rich intake consistent.^[18]

   • Endeavour nutrient rich foods like bananas, sliced apples, pasta, white rice, or cooked vegetables.
   • Exercise not withhold food from your child. The higher and more frequent their nutrient rich diet, the shorter their symptoms will final.^[19]
   • Avert foods high in fat. Foods like cheese, foam, and even total-fat yogurt tin cause bloating and increase pain and discomfort while a child has diarrhea.

3. 3

   Introduce rehydration supplements and probiotics after 24 hours. After 24 hours your child will begin to benefit from ORSs and probiotic supplements. ORSs supercede lost electrolytes while probiotics replace many helpful leaner, as well every bit help combat harmful diarrhea causing bacteria, in your child's GI tract.^[twenty]

   • Yogurt is the near common and widely available probiotic, merely it's loftier fatty content might cause discomfort. Check your local health food shop or pharmacy for culling probiotic supplements, cull depression-fat yogurt options with live active cultures, or ask your doctor for advice.

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• Diarrhea usually stops after 3 or iv days. If information technology lasts longer than 1 calendar week, caregivers should seek help from a trained wellness worker.

• All drinks must be given in a "clean cup." Do non employ a feeding bottle because it is very difficult to proceed clean and reinfection might occur and continue to cause diarrhea.

• Get your kid tested for a food allergy.

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• If the child's diarrhea looks like rice water, contact a medico. This is a surefire sign of severe cholera.

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