Question
What Are the Dangers of Children’s Diarrhea?
Answer
Children’s diarrhea can disrupt normal gastrointestinal function. Frequent and large amounts of diarrhea and vomiting can lead to the loss and imbalance of fluids and electrolytes, even resulting in death. Recurrent or persistent diarrhea can lead to malnutrition and decreased resistance in children. 1) Gastrointestinal symptoms often include vomiting, with severe cases possibly vomiting coffee-colored fluid, decreased appetite, frequent diarrhea, with 10 to several dozen bowel movements per day, mostly yellow watery or egg-like stools containing a small amount of mucus, and in some cases, a small amount of bloody stools may also occur. 2) Dehydration can lead to isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic dehydration, caused by water loss, vomiting, and diarrhea resulting in insufficient intake and thus reducing the total fluid volume, especially extracellular fluids, leading to varying degrees of dehydration. Since the ratio of water loss and electrolyte loss in children with diarrhea can differ, it can cause isotonic, hypotonic, or hypertonic dehydration.