A child has a loose stool - what to do?

The child has a loose stool - what to do? Do not panic! Many mothers who have small children face the problem of a liquid stool. Babies are a normal phenomenon, because the first few months the digestive system of the child adapts to a different diet. Therefore, the feces of a toddler who is breastfed depends directly on what his mother feeds on. Over time, the baby's intestine begins to function normally and the situation stabilizes. But if the color of the feces changes, then you need to pay attention to it.

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What is the color of the feces?

By what kind of feces in appearance, one can at least approximately guess the cause of the trouble:

• Yellow feces with an admixture of mucus speak of an intestinal infection.
• Yellow feces and high fever are signs of an infectious process in the intestine.
• Liquid foamy stool with a sour smell, accompanied by bloating, can be signs of lactase deficiency.
• Liquid black stools indicate internal bleeding.

Important! Black feces can be caused by the intake of iron-containing drugs or tablets of activated charcoal.

• White stools may be a manifestation of hepatitis or rotavirus infection, problems with the gallbladder or liver.
• Feces with blood splashes may be the result of allergies or inflammation of the colon and other causes.
• Liquid green stools may be the result of taking previously antibiotics.

Important! Correctly to determine the reasons can only the doctor, he also will select treatment for your baby. You can not leave this symptom without attention!

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Symptoms of Diarrhea

The child has a loose stool - what to do? How to understand if this is a sign of diarrhea. There are several signs on which you can accurately calculate this attack:

• With diarrhea, the smell of stool becomes very strong and unpleasant.
• Cal is watery, with splotches of mucus, blood.
• The child cradles in separate streams.

If these signs are available, it is worthwhile to see a doctor.

Important! If the child is as active as usual, he does not have abdominal pain and temperature, then in this case no special treatment is required. A liquid stool can be caused by overeating, the use of incompatible products or allergies to a product. In this case, it is worth remembering what your child ate to exclude these foods from his diet.

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When should I see a doctor?

If your child has the following symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor:

• The fever has risen.
• If there is a suspicion that the child has eaten a medicine, a household chemical product or a spoiled product.
• Severe vomiting and pains in the abdomen began.
• If the feces are of a non-standard color or have blood clots.
• There are signs of dehydration.
• If the child has no appetite, he is listless and moody.
• If the baby has developed severe diarrhea, then do not pull, it is better to show it to a specialist.

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First aid for diarrhea

If the child is 3 years old or 3 months old, has a loose stool and you suspect diarrhea, then what can be done before the arrival of specialists:

• The greatest danger is dehydration of the body. At such a moment, the most important thing is to ensure a sufficient supply of fluid in the body.
• If it is a baby, you need to constantly apply it to your chest.
• For older children, you can make up for the loss of fluids with special saline solutions, which you can buy at a pharmacy, for example, "Regidron".
• You can make this solution yourself. For 1 liter of boiled water there are 7 spoonfuls of sugar and one spoonful of salt.
• Do not be superfluous will be various fruit drinks, compotes or decoctions.

Important! Ordinary water, tea or a carbonated drink will not help.

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Causes of diarrhea in children

Stomach upsetting can be caused by various causes:

• Sometimes the cause of diarrhea can be an intestinal infection, its causative agent may be a virus, bacteria or fungi.
• Sources of infection can be contacts with sick people, badly washed hands, poorly prepared food. Stale foods can also cause severe upset stomach. They are often accompanied by vomiting, high fever, dizziness.
• Various parasites can lead to sad consequences - such cases require immediate treatment.
• Strong allergy to a product. This can be accompanied by a rash, a runny nose and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.
• Diarrhea can cause antibiotics or any other drugs.
• Liquid stools occur during teething when the child pulls everything in the mouth.
• There are cases of lactase deficiency. Some children after the introduction of the diet of cow's milk, there is a shortage of enzymes for its cleavage.

Important! For treatment to be effective, you need to establish the cause. Do not engage in self-medication and prescribe independently without a doctor any medications, especially antibiotics.

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How to feed the child at this time?

Often parents do not know what it is possible to feed a child with diarrhea:

• Breastfeeding babies are fed as usual, but my mother will have to sit on a diet and not have too much.
• For a child on artificial feeding a hypoallergenic mixture is selected.
• Older children are fed in small portions so that the inflamed intestine can digest it all. Cooking food during this period is best for a couple. The choice of diet will depend on the cause of diarrhea.

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What can not be done?

• Do not self-medicate, do not give your baby medication yourself until a diagnosis is made. You can give activated charcoal or Smecta - they will simply clean the baby's intestines. But enzymes, for example, "Festal", can worsen the situation. Especially if the diarrhea is of a viral origin.
• Do not limit your baby to drinking, fearing a new attack of diarrhea or vomiting. To drink in such cases you need as much as possible.
• Do not give on the advice of a neighbor or someone else a solution of potassium permanganate inside. In some cases, it stops vomiting and diarrhea. But what is suitable for adults, is not always suitable for kids, and can be fatal for your crumbs.
• Do not interrupt the prescribed treatment ahead of time just because it kind of helped and everything is already in order. It is necessary to bring the course of treatment to the end.

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Prevention measures

Prevention of diarrhea is simple enough:

• It is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene, be sure to wash your hands before eating.
• On the part of parents, it is required to provide proper nutrition for the baby.
• Instruct children not to drink food with water. In this case dilution of gastric juice occurs and the food is worse split and absorbed.
• Avoid overeating and do not give the child heavy meals that are poorly digested.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Do not give the baby dish of questionable quality.
• Try to use less antibiotics - they can cause dysbacteriosis.

So, if a child has a loose stool, what do you now know. Be sure to monitor the state of your child, consult a doctor, so that all symptoms, and the reasons for such ailment, were eliminated in the shortest possible time.