Question
The baby has had severe rotavirus diarrhea for six days, with over ten watery stools each day, all in large quantities. The hospital check-up yesterday showed no significant dehydration, but the baby has lost over 2 pounds in weight. How should I handle and prevent dehydration?
Answer
You can use oral rehydration solutions to prevent dehydration in the baby, but the most effective treatment is breast milk, as about 90% of breast milk contains antibodies against rotavirus. Additionally, frying pork or millet until it turns golden brown, then boiling it with water to make a thin porridge, and feeding the child with the rice soup after removing the grains can also be helpful. Most children will experience a viral gastroenteritis, which is an infectious disease that typically improves within 5-7 days. However, it’s important to ensure the child drinks plenty of water to prevent dehydration. As the condition improves after a week, increase the child’s water intake.