Diarrhea in children

Diarrhea in children

Acute diarrhea means that the stool suddenly becomes looser and comes more frequently than normal. With diarrhea, a lot of fluid disappears quickly, and it is important to replace the fluid loss to prevent drying out (dehydration). Young children can become dehydrated quickly.

Causes of diarrhea in toddlers

• Infections with viruses and bacteria are the most common cause of acute diarrhea. Rotavirus (the virus that most often causes communicable disease) is an example of a virus that is a common cause of diarrhea in children

• Food or drink the child cannot tolerate can cause diarrhoea

• Some medicines, such as antibiotics, can cause diarrhoea

Prolonged diarrhea in young children is often caused by other things than infection with bacteria or viruses. Long-term (chronic) diarrhea should be examined by a doctor, as it may be due to an underlying condition, for example food allergy/intolerance.

Vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain are common at the same time as diarrhoea.

Signs of dehydration in toddlers

In case of diarrhoea, there is a risk of dehydration in young children. It is therefore important to keep an eye on the child to see if he shows signs of dehydration.

• Thirst and/or dryness in the mouth

• Dark color of the urine

• Weakness/fatigue

• The child is restless and/or screams a lot

Please note that dehydration can occur quickly in children under 2-3 years of age.

What should you do when your child has diarrhea?

Give the child a drink

Diarrhea causes fluid loss, so the most important thing you can do is give your child plenty of fluids to counteract fluid loss. The smaller the child, the less it takes before the child becomes dehydrated. The body also loses important salts and sugar, so it is important to replace this loss. Let the child have the drink they want, the most important thing is that they drink fluids. If the child does not want to drink water, diluted juice or very diluted soda can be given.

GEM powder and Resorb liquid substitute give the child liquid, salts and sugar. Do not add juice or juice to GEM to improve the taste, this can cause increased fluid loss. GEM powder can be used by children of all ages, while Resorb is intended for children over 3 years of age.

Feed again as soon as possible

Eating can help you recover faster. When the child has had enough liquid for 4-6 hours, the child can benefit from regular food again. Lactic acid bacteria can shorten the duration of diarrhea.

How much fluid does the child need?

In general, we can say that the more liquid, the better, and that it is better to drink something than nothing. Minimum fluid intake should be:

• Children under 1 year: 1 deciliter per kilogram of body weight per day

• Children over 1 year: ½ -1 deciliter per kilogram of body weight per day

A good indicator that your child is getting enough fluid is that the child urinates every 3-4 hours.

Good advice to avoid diarrhoea

• Practice good hand hygiene, especially after using the toilet and before cooking

• Good personal hygiene is important

• Pay attention to the quality of the tap water

When should you contact a doctor for diarrhea in children?

• If the child is under 6 months

• If the child has bloody stools and/or vomiting

• If the child is lethargic and otherwise has a reduced general condition

• If parents do not get liquid into the child or if the child urinates infrequently

• In case of prolonged diarrhoea, it may be due to another underlying condition.

Sources: Norwegian Apotekforeningen, Norwegian electronic medical handbook, Norwegian health informatics for healthcare personnel and Helsebiblioteket.no