Question

How should one handle diarrhea in a 5-month-old baby?

Answer

Diarrhea can be categorized into infectious and non-infectious types, a group of clinical syndromes caused by various etiologies and factors, primarily characterized by diarrhea. The onset age is often below 2 years old, with about 50% of cases occurring in infants under 1 year. Treatment suggestions are as follows:

  1. Diet Therapy: For mild cases, increase milk intake, or substitute with congee, sugar-salt water, etc.; for severe cases, fasting for 8 to 24 hours is recommended, followed by intravenous fluid administration.
  2. Fluid Therapy:
    • Oral method: Suitable for mild dehydration or not severe vomiting. The fluid replacement is calculated at 100 milliliters per kilogram of body weight per day, taken in multiple doses.
    • Intravenous fluid therapy: Suitable for moderate to severe dehydration.
  3. Infection Control: Use antibiotics according to the cause.
  4. Symptomatic Treatment: For vomiting, oral sodium bicarbonate or light acid protein 0.3 grams can be taken once daily, three times a day; for digestion assistance, oral pepsin complex can be taken at a dose of 1 milliliter per year of age, three times a day, or one multienzyme tablet three times a day. Treatment should be tailored to the condition. It is recommended to choose the treatment method and medication based on the child’s specific situation and to seek treatment early. Wishing the baby a swift recovery! These suggestions are for the “diarrhea in a 5-month-old baby” issue and hope they are helpful to you. Wishing you health!