4 important questions related to diarrhoea in kids

Diarrhoea can make your kid feel exhausted, dehydrated and uncomfortable. It can also be equally stressful for you, especially if you don’t understand the cause or how to manage the symptoms. The following commonly asked questions and their answers can help you understand more about diarrhoea in kids and how to treat it:

Q. Diarrhoea in kids: How to tell?

Diarrhoea in kids between 2 to 5 years of age is characterized by frequent passing of stools that are of liquid consistency. The stools have a foul smell too.

Q. What are the causes of diarrhoea in children?

There can be several causes that can trigger diarrhoea or loose motions in kids:

• Lactose intolerance following a gastrointestinal disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome in older kids
• Celiac disease
• Allergy or intolerance to different food groups
• Any sort of intestinal infections (bacterial, viral, or parasitic)
• Any sort of side effect arising from medication

If you are not sure about the cause of diarrhoea, then it is recommended that you seek medical advice.

Q. What is the treatment of diarrhoea in children?

Extreme cases of diarrhoea in children can lead to dehydration. To control this, you can follow some of these home remedies for diarrhoea in babies. Firstly, you should offer them water regularly throughout the day. Do monitor if your kid is passing urine regularly and if their lips are getting dry. If the diarrhoea is not cured in two days, then your doctor might recommend stool tests in order to identify the presence of any kind of pathogens or any other cause.

Q. What are the guidelines that need to be followed?

• In severe or prolonged cases of diarrhoea, a rehydration electrolyte solution can be given to kids. However, do not forget to consult with your paediatrician.
• Do not try medications or diet restrictions without any medical supervision and advice.
• Be vigilant and alert and always treat diarrhoea as a contagious disease. Wash your hands each time after a nappy change.
• Give your toddler probiotics, which contain healthy bacteria. The easiest way to do that is to give yogurt.
• Avoid sweetened beverages since they contain high sugar and also avoid fruit juices since they can make diarrhoea worse.

Remember there is no instant medication for diarrhoea. The best way to treat is to feed your child lots of fluids and a diet that is easy to digest and rich in probiotics.