What Should I Do If My Child Has Watery Diarrhea?

When parents are caring for their children, they may encounter diarrhea, which is a common condition second only to respiratory infections. Diarrhea in children is a very common clinical manifestation with various causes. When faced with diarrhea in children, parents should not panic, as adopting the correct methods can help alleviate the condition. So, what should parents do when their child has diarrhea? Here are some tips:

How to Handle Diarrhea in Children

1. The most important aspect of treating diarrhea in children is to promptly replenish bodily fluids to prevent dehydration. This can be achieved by using homemade sugar-salt solutions, which are made by adding 1.75 grams of salt (equivalent to half a beer bottle cap) and 10 grams of sugar (equivalent to 2 teaspoons) to 5000 milliliters of warm water. Alternatively, homemade rice water with added salt can also be used.

2. It is essential to maintain good hygiene, both in terms of food and personal hygiene, to prevent the spread of germs.

3. Pay attention to the quality of food and avoid those that may irritate the stomach. For children younger than three months, formula milk should be diluted appropriately before feeding.

4. Keep the child's abdomen warm as they have no fat layer for insulation, which can lead to increased intestinal motility and diarrhea.

5. Adjust the child's diet to include bland, liquid, or semi-liquid foods, and encourage them to eat as much as they can tolerate without vomiting.

6. A fasting period of 6-10 hours may be considered, followed by a gradual resumption of diet, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing the consistency.

Dietary Remedies for Diarrhea in Children

1. Charcoal Rice Soup: Grind rice powder or milk paste into a fine powder, toast it until it turns brown, and then add water and sugar to boil into a thin paste. The carbonized structure of the charred rice powder can adsorb harmful substances in the intestines, helping to detoxify and stop diarrhea. This nutritious soup is an excellent choice for treating diarrhea in children.

2. Carrot Soup: Carrots are alkaline foods that contain pectin, which can help form stool and adsorb pathogenic bacteria and toxins in the intestines. To make carrot soup, wash the carrots, cut them into small pieces, boil them until tender, strain the liquid, add water to make a soup (ratio of 500g carrots to 1000ml water), and finally boil with sugar. This soup can be consumed 2-3 times daily, 100-150ml each time, and discontinued when diarrhea improves.

3. Apple Puree: Apples are also alkaline foods that contain pectin and tannic acid, which have adsorbing, astringent, and antidiarrheal properties. To make apple puree, cut a fresh, soft apple into halves and scrape out the flesh using a spoon. Consume 2-3 times daily.