Diarrhea in children
What will happen to my child?
Most children who have diarrhea get better in about a week. The main danger is losing too much fluid (dehydration). If this happens, your child can get very ill very quickly.
Most cases of diarrhea can be treated at home. But take your child to the doctor if you are at all worried.
The doctor will ask you about your child's symptoms and do an exam. They might look for other causes of your child's symptoms,
like an ear infection or a urine infection. They will look for signs of
dehydration.
dehydrated
When you're dehydrated, you don't have enough fluid in your blood. This could be because you're not drinking enough or because you're losing water by sweating or having diarrhea.
When you're dehydrated, you don't have enough fluid in your blood. This could be because you're not drinking enough or because you're losing water by sweating or having diarrhea.
The doctor might recommend rehydration drinks.
1
2
Source:
World Health Organization.
The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (4th revision).
2005. Available at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents (accessed on 25 September 2008).
World Health Organization.
The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (4th revision).
2005. Available at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents (accessed on 25 September 2008).
Source:
King CK, Glass R, Bresee JS, et al.
Managing acute gastroenteritis among children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and nutritional therapy.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 2003; 21; 52: 1-16.
King CK, Glass R, Bresee JS, et al.
Managing acute gastroenteritis among children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and nutritional therapy.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 2003; 21; 52: 1-16.
If your child is very ill they will have to go to the hospital. Depending on how serious their dehydration is, their treatment
might be:
1
2
Source:
World Health Organization.
The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (4th revision).
2005. Available at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents (accessed on 25 September 2008).
World Health Organization.
The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (4th revision).
2005. Available at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents (accessed on 25 September 2008).
Source:
King CK, Glass R, Bresee JS, et al.
Managing acute gastroenteritis among children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and nutritional therapy.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 2003; 21; 52: 1-16.
King CK, Glass R, Bresee JS, et al.
Managing acute gastroenteritis among children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and nutritional therapy.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 2003; 21; 52: 1-16.
- Being given rehydration drinks and being watched closely
- Being given rehydration solutions through a tube that goes down their nose and into their stomach (nasogastric rehydration)
- Being given fluids through a tube in their vein (an IV or
intravenous infusion
When a medicine or a fluid, such as blood, is fed directly into a vein, it's called an intravenous infusion (or IV). To give you an intravenous infusion, a nurse, technician or a doctor places a narrow plastic tube into a vein (usually in your arm) using a needle. The needle is then removed and the fluid is infused (or dripped) through the tube into the vein.intravenous infusion).
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rotavirus disease: Questions and Answers.
April 2006. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rotavirus/dis-faqs.htm (accessed on 25 September 2008).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rotavirus disease: Questions and Answers.
April 2006. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rotavirus/dis-faqs.htm (accessed on 25 September 2008).
Sources for the information on this page:
- World Health Organization.The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (4th revision).2005. Available at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents (accessed on 25 September 2008).
- King CK, Glass R, Bresee JS, et al. Managing acute gastroenteritis among children: oral rehydration, maintenance, and nutritional therapy.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 2003; 21; 52: 1-16.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rotavirus disease: Questions and Answers. April 2006. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rotavirus/dis-faqs.htm (accessed on 25 September 2008).
This information was last updated on Mar 06, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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Source: ConsumerReportsHealth.org Copyright © 2005-2008 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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