Diarrhea and vomiting diarrhea dry out the body very quickly. Especially in infants, small children and also older people, this danger exists. Fluids and salts must be replaced quickly, and in large quantities: three to four liters of suitable fluid for adults, slightly less for children.
This is what doctors recommend
Mineral water (still or slightly carbonated), various herbal teas (e.g., chamomile, fennel), and also highly diluted fruit juices. Electrolyte solutions from the pharmacy are also suitable. Infants and children are best spooned the tea in portions, they otherwise spit out the laboriously instilled liquid too easily again.
And what about the food?
When the appetite slowly makes itself known again and the child’s belly feels hungry, at first it may only be light “tonics”, i.e. grated apples and mashed bananas – also tastes really delicious together -, cooked oatmeal and mashed potatoes, rusks, later also lean cooked meat or a broth, clear or prepared from fresh carrots. Spicy and fatty foods as well as dairy products should be taboo in the first few days, but usually the little patient feels an aversion to them anyway.
Preparations with lactobacilli can support the healing process and the defense in the intestine. The destroyed intestinal flora can thus be rebuilt. Professor Dr. Michael Radke, chief physician of the pediatric clinic of the hospital Ernst von Bergmann in potsdam and adviser of the society for pädiatrische Gastroenterologie and nutrition registered association. (GPGE), advises parents not to give their sick children medicines “on their own”. This should always be done only after consultation with the doctor. Some preparations against diarrhea and vomiting are not suitable, especially in children, they can even cause harm on the contrary.
The following symptoms indicate a serious illness with which you should immediately take your child to the doctor:
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Thin, watery stool for more than 6 hours.
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fatigue, apathy
- Fever and vomiting
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sunken fontanel
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rare blink
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low urine production
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Child is lazy to drink or refuses food.
Hygiene measures
No one can avoid conscientious hygiene when a patient with acute gastrointestinal disease is in the house: always wash hands thoroughly with soap under warm running water. Avoid direct contact with stool or vomit by putting on rubber gloves, for example, and soiled laundry must be washed with detergent at 60°C.
