Question
A 14-month-old girl had a fever for two days, followed by a runny nose and cough. After five days of treatment, she began to have diarrhea, with feces showing an egg-white appearance and watery discharge. How should this situation be handled?
Answer
Based on the description, the girl may have viral gastroenteritis. In this case, preventing dehydration is the most important. At 14 months old, the infant should have already started consuming complementary foods. Diarrhea is often associated with feeding incompatibility, catching a cold, or infection, which may lead to gastrointestinal dysfunction and trigger diarrhea. It is recommended to consult a doctor first and conduct a stool test to rule out infectious gastroenteritis. If diagnosed with bacterial infectious gastroenteritis, consider using anti-infection treatments such as cephalosporin antibiotics. During the diarrhea period, provide warm and easily digestible foods such as rice porridge to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.