As autumn sets in and the weather gets cooler, it's the peak season for "autumn diarrhea," and mothers are starting to get nervous. At the first sign of a loose stool, mothers start to worry: has my baby caught autumn diarrhea?
Is a baby's autumn diarrhea the same as "autumn diarrhea"?
"Autumn diarrhea" refers to diarrhea in infants and young children caused by the rotavirus, which is the most common type of childhood diarrhea. The diarrhea caused by the rotavirus is often called "autumn diarrhea" because it frequently occurs in autumn and winter, but this does not mean that all diarrhea occurring in these seasons is "autumn diarrhea," nor is "autumn diarrhea" limited to the autumn season. The key point to prevent is dehydration.
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a self-limiting disease with a natural course of about 3-8 days, sometimes longer. Due to the loss of large amounts of water and electrolytes from diarrhea and vomiting, it is easy for children to develop varying degrees of dehydration, acidosis, and electrolyte imbalances (such as low sodium and low potassium). Therefore, parents must take measures to prevent and correct dehydration.
From the initial onset of diarrhea, parents should consciously give the child small amounts of water or congee frequently, increase the frequency of breastfeeding, and administer oral rehydration salts to replenish fluids and electrolytes in a timely manner.
Oral rehydration salts (ORS) are the best method recommended by the World Health Organization for treating dehydration in children with diarrhea. When using ORS, follow the dilution instructions on the package and administer it in small, frequent doses. This can both prevent and treat mild to moderate dehydration.
Recommended dosage of oral rehydration salts: It is advisable to give the baby a certain amount of ORS after each episode of loose stool, continuing until the diarrhea stops. Generally, for babies under 6 months, give 50ml each time; for those 6 months to 2 years, 100ml; for those 2-10 years, 150ml; for those over 10, give as much as they can drink.
In home treatment, if the child has not urinated for 4 hours despite efforts to rehydrate, and especially if they show signs such as crying with few tears or a dry mouth, they should be taken to the hospital promptly to correct dehydration through intravenous fluid therapy.
Babies with diarrhea should continue to be fed; fasting is not recommended
There is a misconception that babies should fast when they have diarrhea, which is thought to reduce the burden on the digestive system, slow down gastrointestinal motility, and thus decrease the frequency of diarrhea. But the reality is the opposite. Hunger from fasting can actually cause gastrointestinal motility to increase several-fold, leading to more frequent bowel movements.
The new concept for diarrhea management is to continue feeding without fasting, to prevent the child from experiencing a significant drop in weight in a short period. Breastfed babies should continue breastfeeding, unless the vomiting is severe, or there is obvious abdominal bloating and diarrhea after feeding, in which case fasting for 4-6 hours may be temporarily necessary.
During diarrhea, not only should the baby not be fasted, but they should also have a proper diet. Babies under 6 months should continue breastfeeding or formula milk, and you may consider switching to a lactose-free formula. For those who have not started solid foods, wait until they recover before gradually reintroducing them. For babies over 6 months, they can continue to eat foods they are familiar with, just avoiding greasy, high-sugar, and high-fiber foods. Examples include congee, noodles, minced egg, minced meat, and minced fish.