Diarrhea in toddlers

definition

As diarrhea (Diarrhea) is generally used to describe the delivery of stool that is too liquid. Depending on the severity and cause of the diarrhea, this can be of long or short duration. A precise definition of diarrhea is often difficult because the amount and consistency of stool that is considered normal can vary greatly from person to person, both subjectively and objectively. In toddlers, frequencies of more than three times a day thin stool with more than 75% water are considered pathological. Diarrhea can be caused by many different diseases. However, the most common cause of diarrhea in young children is infection by bacteria or viruses. As a rule, diarrhea is easy and heals on its own without any further action. Severe or long-lasting diarrhea can be threatening, especially for children, due to the high loss of fluid and electrolytes and requires drug therapy.

causes

The most common trigger for toddler diarrhea is one Intestinal infection by viruses or bacteria. First and foremost, here are those Rotavirus and the Norovirus, but also the group of Adenoviruses to mention which are very infectious. You will be through in the first place Smear infections transmitted, whereby they get on hands by touching soiled objects and surfaces on which the viruses are located. Above all, frequently used everyday objects such as Doorknobs, light switches and taps are ideal places of distribution for these viruses and pathogens in general. Not only, but especially in small children, they can easily get into the mouth and from here into the gastrointestinal tract.

On the other hand, food is also a possible source of infection with viruses. However, when it comes to food infections, what matters most Bacterial infections a bigger role. These can either trigger diarrheal diseases directly through an infection or through the bacterial toxins they produce (Toxins) Cause diarrhea, in which case it is caused by a Food poisoning spoken. In particular, the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli), various Salmonella species and Campylobacter jejuni, which in spoiled or improperly stored food can be found play a role here.

Finally, medication or a Food intolerance be responsible for diarrhea in toddlers. In the case of small children, intolerance to staple foods such as Cereal products (or the protein gluten they contain), the lactose and chicken protein contained in dairy products are important. Regarding drugs that cause diarrheal diseases in young children are above all Antibiotics not only because they damage and kill disease-causing bacteria, but also the damage the natural intestinal flora.

Symptoms

According to the definition, apply three or more soft to thin stools per day, the amount of which is also larger than usual, in toddlers as diarrhea. The color of the chair is not in itself important for defining diarrhea, but it can be changed. Usually there is bowel movement as well foul smelling. Depending on the cause and severity of the diarrhea, the stool may Blood or mucus.

That being said, in addition to the diarrhea itself, other, more likely to occur unspecific symptoms on. You can do this Nausea and vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, Exhaustion, Sweats and also a headache belong.

It also characteristically occurs with infectious causes in particular elevated temperatures, or. Fever. From Fever in the toddler is spoken at core body temperatures from 38.5 ° C, temperatures between 37.2 ° C and 38.4 ° C are referred to as subfebrile. The body temperature is ideally measured rectal. At the Measure a fever In the armpit it should be noted that the temperature measured here is usually 0.5 to 1 ° C lower.

Diarrhea and vomiting

The onset of diarrhea and vomiting can happen very quickly in young children. If the child is still doing well for one minute, he may suffer from diarrhea and vomiting an hour later. The causes for this are usually harmless and disappear on their own after a few days.

Viruses such as rotavirus, against which there is a vaccination, and noroviruses are primarily responsible for this. It is now important for parents to try to replace the lost amount of water by giving them plenty of drink. Water shortages can occur very quickly, especially in children under one year old. Frequent hand washing is also high on the list of measures that should be taken to prevent further infection. Parents in general should be very vigilant for signs of lack of water in their child, such as the presence of concentrated urine.

It is often unnecessary to see a doctor because the symptoms are caused by viruses for which the pediatrician cannot prescribe drugs. However, if there is a fever and the child does not drink enough, it is advisable to visit the pediatrician so that he can decide whether the child needs to be hospitalized or not.

Read more on the topic Vomiting in young children, duration of diarrhea

diagnosis

As with other diseases, it comes History of diarrheal diseases very important to it. Since diarrhea can have many causes, it is very important that parents monitor the symptoms and how they progressed. Of particular interest are the Frequency and texture of stool and whether too Abdominal pain in the child occur. Further questions which can give the doctor useful information and which you should therefore pay attention to are:

• Does your child have a fever and vomit?
• Has your child been sick recently?
• Do friends, acquaintances or relatives with whom the child has recently come into contact have similar symptoms?
• How long has it been since the last stay abroad and what medication is your child taking or has it recently taken?

The further basic diagnosis then includes physical examination of the childto which that Palpation and listening of the abdomen heard. However, further examinations are usually not necessary and usually bring little benefit in the further course of therapy. Submitting a stool sample can make sense microscopic examination of the stool on white blood cells can be done for example. Should the microscopy be positive, this would speak for one viral causecaused by noro- or rotaviruses. Other possible examinations consist of one Ultrasound examination of the abdomen, a lactose intolerance test for the Diagnosing lactose intolerance as well as laboratory tests of the blood.

Diarrhea in toddlers - what helps?

If your child has diarrhea, ask Measure body temperature a first important measure. Especially in combination with vomiting, subfebrile temperatures or even fever can lead to a infectious cause conclude. In any case, however, it must be due to the diarrhea high water and electrolyte loss in the child be balanced. Depending on the age of the child, there are various recommendations as to which liquids and salts can be used to achieve this balance as effectively as possible.

Small children, in particular, should not consume solid food for the first six hours and instead drink as much as possible. Ideally, this should be done in small amounts and with drinks that are as varied as possible. We particularly recommend various teas, which have an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect due to the tannins they contain. Classically, chamomile, fennel and diluted black tea are used, in which two level teaspoons of sugar or honey and a pinch of salt can be added per 100 ml. That being said, fruit juices rich in potassium, especially banana and apricot juice, and salty broths are very good at compensating for the loss of nutrients and electrolytes.

A little tip: If your child is already drinking from the cup on its own, using a straw can increase the amount of drink in many cases. After about six hours, your child can be offered solid foods again. However, it should be easy to digest and low in fat. Well-tried “recipes” still apply today: salted gruel, rusks, grated apples or mashed bananas are suitable light foods for diarrhea in toddlers.

On the Internet there are a number of recipes for making an electrolyte-sugar mixture, which should contain all the necessary nutrients, regarding hydration during the first six hours after the onset of diarrhea. However, caution is advised. Most of these recipes are based on outdated WHO recommendations and are therefore no longer valid today. In addition, these recipes have potential risks. Children are much more sensitive to electrolyte fluctuations than adults. The wrong preparation of these so-called rehydration solutions can therefore have a negative effect on the well-being of your child. As an alternative to mixing the solutions yourself, they can also be purchased at the pharmacy. As for the combination of cola and savory biscuits that used to be used for diarrheal diseases, it is no longer recommended or even discouraged today. The reason for this is that Coca-Cola contains more than eight times the solution recommended by the WHO for rehydration in diarrheal diseases. As a result, it has a high osmolar activity, which ultimately means that it binds additional water in the intestine. As a result, cola can even make diarrhea worse.

In addition, in the case of diarrhea in small children, as in adults, the usual hygiene measures should not be neglected. Above all, frequent hand washing is of the utmost importance for every family member in order to avoid infection.

Medication

In most cases therapy is with Medication for diarrhea in toddlers not necessarysince the disease is self-limiting in most cases. Instead, one is in the foreground adequate fluid and electrolyte supply.

In fact, the most common diarrhea drug used in adults is Loperamide, with the exception of severe cases, even unsuitable for use with small children. The effect of the drug, which belongs to the class of opioids (synthetically produced opiates) is based on one Inhibition of bowel movement (Bowel motility), which gives the intestines more time to reabsorb fluid so that the stool becomes firmer. In adults, loperamide only has a local effect on the intestine, which means that the agent itself has very few side effects. With children it is Blood-brain barrier, which prevents most substances from passing into the central nervous system, but is much more permeable than in us adults. In this way, loperamide can penetrate into the brain and here symptoms typical of opiates like one Respiratory inhibition and even a delirium cause. For this reason, loperamide is never prescribed to children under two years of age and only in severe cases under strict dosage guidelines for children under twelve years of age. Since diarrhea also has a protective function in intestinal infections, which should flush out pathogens, the opioid has a rather negative effect here and can prolong the duration of the illness.

A antibiotic therapy is usually not useful eitherbecause a large part of diarrheal disease is caused by viruses against which antibiotics are not effective. If an antibiotic is still prescribed for viral infections, the chances are good that the diarrhea will get worse, as the natural intestinal flora is harmed.

Home remedies

If there is diarrhea in small children, but also in adults, it develops after a certain duration Dehydration in the body as a lot of fluids are excreted in the form of liquid stool. One of the main goals must therefore be to replace the lost fluid. This works best with non-carbonated water or tea. So should the child at least 2.5 liters of water take in the day. Another problem is the loss of Electrolytes such as sodium or potassium. These are in fact flushed out of the body with the liquid in the event of diarrhea and a Electrolyte deficiency. However, this is very easy to get through Pretzel sticks, rusks or a cup of vegetable stock replace. Cola should not yet be used for this in small children, as it would further irritate the intestines through the carbonic acid.

It is also never wrong many fruits to offer. So you can grate bananas or apples. The pectin contained in the bowl helps to bind the free water in the intestine. A porridge made from mashed bananas with grated rusks is ideal. You should stay away from heavy, hearty meals and dairy products for the time being.

A well known home remedy is Orange tea For this, a bag of black tea draws approx. 700ml of boiling water for about 8 minutes. Then add some orange juice, sugar and a spoonful of salt.This means that you have all of the ingredients mentioned above in one drink, even if toddlers don't always like it.

Please also read our topic: Home remedies to treat diarrhea

homeopathy

As with most diseases, a number of homeopathic medications are offered in the presence of diarrhea, which are intended to alleviate the symptoms of the disease or to cure it. The boundaries between useful naturopathy and charlatanism are fluid and often difficult to make out. Globules in general do not keep their promises according to the current state of science. In fact, that contradicts homeopathy even any scientific knowledge, if only with regard to the principle of testing homeopathic remedies. This is actually not carried out on sick people, but is done solely by healthy testers, who then describe the subjectively felt effect of the globules.

In each case, however, exist well-tried herbal productswhich has been proven to be a positive effect on diarrheal diseases unfold and are also suitable for small children. These primarily include various teas such as Chamomile, fennel and black tea. The latter, however, should be administered diluted.

Suitable foods

Whether, how much and what should be eaten in diarrheal diseases is always a subject of great uncertainty, especially when small children are affected. Helpful on the subject Diet for diarrhea are precisely why they are here Recommendations of the Federal Center for Health Educationwhich are also available online.
According to their information on diarrhea in young children, the child should not consume any solid food for the first six hours after the onset of diarrhea. Instead, it is advised to give the child as varied a variety of drinks as possible. First and foremost are therefore sugared teas and fruit juices recommendable. As soon as the first six hours have passed, your child can already light, low-fat diet Tobe offered. What has long been recommended for diarrhea is particularly suitable here: salted mucous soups, grated apples, mashed bananas and rusks are easy to digest and therefore well suited. Once the diarrhea has subsided, your child can start eating mostly normal food the next day. However, fatty and difficult to digest should be avoided for the time being.

Miracle Po - what helps?

The skin of children is much more sensitive and less resistant than that of us adults. For this reason, it happens very quickly, especially with small children sore skin on the buttockswhich causes further discomfort in addition to the actual diarrhea. Precisely because this problem is so widespread, there are many recommendations around the topic with many references to home remedies such as a Sitz bath made from long drawn black tea for the child. The idea behind it makes sense in principle, as the tannins contained in black tea antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and analgesic Act. Once your child's bottom is really sore, it is better to resort to other means.

Tannolact, which contains the active ingredient phenol-methanal-urea-polycondensate and is also used for many other inflammatory skin diseases, has proven itself here and is usually called Bath additive used. Apart from that, a wound ointment such as Mirfulan can be applied to the sore bottom after the Sitz bath with Tannolact. The wound ointment containing zinc and cod liver oil works on the one hand Relieves itching and pain, closes the wound surface and supplies the skin on the other side with the Vitamins A and D. This makes it very suitable for treating sore skin.

When should you go to the doctor?

At what point in time a visit to the pediatrician is necessary in the event of diarrhea is a very legitimate, but not always easy to answer question. Still there are a number of warning signwhich should lead to an immediate doctor's visit. If, for example, you cannot get your child to drink, this is a valid reason. Likewise pose Vomiting diarrhea, high fever, and severe abdominal pain They should also be alerted if the Your child's abdominal wall is very tense his or her Diarrhea for more than twelve hours stop.

Wavy abdominal pain combined with vomiting, diarrhea, paleness and a very bloated stomach can affect you Intestinal obstruction indicate. You should then consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Diarrhea and loss of appetite, combined with abdominal pain, can also cause a Appendicitis indicate that especially small children often show very unspecific symptoms. For example, a so-called shock pain in the right lower abdomen could occur when the child hops on one leg.

In any case, you should trust how you feel because you know your child best. If your child is behaving differently from previous diarrhea or if you are unusually worried for any other reason, you should have one See a pediatrician, or on days on which the practice is closed, one Emergency room seek out. In case of doubt, the risk of an unnecessary visit to the doctor is always smaller than the risk of endangering your child's health.

Duration

The duration of diarrhea in young children can be very different fail. First and foremost, this depends on the underlying cause. Acute diarrhea that is viral (caused by rotaviruses, for example) can unfortunately and also last for a long time only go away completely after two to three weeks. In most cases, however, the diarrhea persists a little over a week on. Overall, the actual duration of diarrheal illnesses, especially in small children, is usually difficult to predict.

Is Diarrhea Contagious in Toddlers?

Whether a diarrheal disease is contagious cannot always be said with certainty; it depends on what triggered the diarrhea. If the diarrhea is caused by an infection, it is contagious, but if the child has diarrhea due to a food intolerance, the diarrhea is not contagious. In general, however, it should be assumed that it is actually contagious, as it can be based on both bacterial and viral infections. In case of a Noro- or rotavirus infection, the stool (and also the vomit) is very infectious. For this reason, basic hygiene measures are urgently recommended for any diarrhea! This primarily includes frequent hand washing, especially before food preparation. In addition, surfaces that are frequently touched, such as water taps and door handles, can be cleaned in order to prevent the diarrhea pathogens from spreading through smear infections.