Question
A one-and-a-half-year-old child experienced vomiting and diarrhea at night, throwing up or having diarrhea after eating. The symptoms began at 6 PM on November 19th and lasted until 11:45 PM. The child is now asleep, but still has diarrhea. Today, the parents took the child to play in the mountains, and they would like to inquire about how to handle this situation.
Answer
The likely cause is unsanitary food intake. Treatment methods include:
- Antibiotics: If diagnosed with bacterial enteritis, antibiotic treatment should be administered under a doctor’s guidance. Improper discontinuation of medication may lead to chronic colitis, affecting the child’s nutrition and health.
- Intravenous Infusion: Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, with infants being particularly susceptible. The mortality rate from severe dehydration can reach 30%, but by replenishing fluids and electrolytes, the mortality rate can be reduced to below 5%. Therefore, in severe cases, intravenous infusion should be administered while correcting acidosis and replenishing potassium.
- Diet: In severe diarrhea cases, temporary fasting may be necessary to allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest. After symptoms improve, start with rice water or easily digestible foods before gradually increasing the concentration of food.