Question
A one-and-a-half-year-old child began to experience vomiting and diarrhea symptoms after eating a banana on an empty stomach. The next day, the child had no appetite, and the vomiting and diarrhea continued. By the third and fourth days, the symptoms eased, but the appetite remained poor. In the afternoon of the fourth day, vomiting occurred again. On the morning of the fifth day, there were brief convulsive symptoms, including upward gaze, clenched jaws, and a bluish complexion, which returned to normal after about a minute. What could be the cause?
Answer
Children’s development is not yet mature. When body temperature rises, intestinal peristalsis accelerates, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. The causes of fever in children are diverse, but they are commonly seen in respiratory and digestive system diseases. Based on your description, it is suspected that viral influenza or mesenteric lymphadenitis may be the cause. Viral influenza can cause high fever, while diarrhea and vomiting may lead to dehydration, exacerbating fever. Mesenteric lymphadenitis usually occurs as a secondary condition to an inadequately treated upper respiratory infection. It is recommended to undergo an abdominal ultrasound examination to rule out the possibility of mesenteric lymphadenitis. If it is viral influenza, intravenous fluid therapy is best. Since young children can become dehydrated quickly with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea in a day, which can worsen the fever, it is advisable to give small amounts of water multiple times to prevent dehydration. In terms of diet, provide rice…