Question
How should I handle diarrhea and watery stools in a child under ten months old? How long does it take to recover?
Answer
Treatment for pediatric diarrhea: (1) Dietary Therapy: Adequate nutritional supply during diarrhea is important for promoting disease recovery, reducing the extent of weight loss and growth stunting, shortening the recovery time after diarrhea, and preventing malnutrition. After diarrhea stops, continue to provide nutritious food and add one extra meal per day for a total of two weeks to catch up with normal growth. Children with malnutrition or those in the recovery period of chronic diarrhea may take longer, until malnutrition is restored. (2) Care: For infectious diarrhea, attention should be paid to disinfection and isolation. Monitor vomiting, defecation, and urination. Feed water or oral rehydration solutions on time, and control the speed of intravenous fluid replacement. Strengthen eye care to prevent aspiration due to vomiting. Turn frequently to prevent secondary pneumonia. (3) Infection Control: Viral enteritis is primarily treated with dietary therapy and supportive treatment, without the need for antibiotic use. Acute enteritis caused by non-invasive bacteria is often self-limiting and can be cured with supportive therapy alone, but antibiotics are still recommended for newborns, infants, weakened children, and severe cases. Invasive bacterial enteritis generally requires antibiotic treatment. 1) E. coli: Gentamicin, Pipemidic Acid, Norfloxacin, Furazolidone, certain cephalosporins, combinated sulfamethoxazole, Berberine, Ampicillin. 2) Campylobacter jejuni: Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Amoxicillin, Furazolidone, Norfloxacin. 3) Yersinia enterocolitica: Gentamicin