Note when taking diarrhea medications for children

Diarrhea is a very common disease in children. Understanding diarrhea medications in children will help parents use the drug safely, effectively, reducing the time and severeness of diarrhea, helping children quickly recover.

1. Note when taking medications for diarrhea in children

Diarrhea is a very common disease, especially in children. Many causes of diarrhea for children, the most common of which are Rota virus, E.colibacteria , Shigella, Salmonella enterocoltica, vibrrio cholerae,… When he has diarrhea, he will have loose stool diarrhea several times a day (more than 3 times), in addition, he may have vomiting, abdominal pain, obstruction, fever, cough, runny nose.

If there is no dehydration, the child with diarrhea can be treated at home. Home diarrhea medications are primarily aimed at rehydration, electrolyses and boosting children's immunity.

1.1 How to use Oresol solution in the treatment of diarrhea in children

The key point in the treatment of diarrhea is to replenish the child with enough water and electrolys, the more diarrhea and vomiting the child needs to strengthen the fluid. Oresol solution (ORS) is the best rehydration and electrolycage solution. When choosing to purchase ANS solution, parents should choose to purchase ors with low osmosis concentrations. This type of ORS has lower concentrations of sodium, glucose and total osmosis than the previous ORS type. The advantage of low osmosis concentrations is that it reduces diarrhea and vomiting volume, greater safety and therapeutic effectivenessity.

Ingredient

Former standard ORS
solution (mEq or mmol/L)

Ors solution with low
osmosis concentration
(mEq or mmol/L)

Glucose

111

75

potassium

20

20

sodium

90

75

Chloride

80

65

Citrate

10

10

Osmosis

311

245

It is necessary to carefully read the instructions for use before mixing ORS solution, because ors products on the market are currently very diverse, have the type of package, type of ball, have many flavors such as orange flavor, coconut flavor for children easy to drink. The volume of water required for mixing is also different, there is a phase type in 200ml, there is a phase type in 250ml, there is a brew type in 1 liter of water. It is necessary to measure the amount of water according to the manufacturer's instructions to mix the ors solution with the right concentration, if the mixing is not enough water, the solution is too dense when used will endanger the child, if mixing too much water, the solution obtained is too diluted, will not achieve the desired effect.

Before mixing ORS, wash your hands thoroughly with soap. The tools used to mix must be clean. The solution after mixing is used only for 24 hours. If not used up after this time, it must be removed and phased out.

It is recommended to give ors after each child's diarrhea and between times of diarrhea until diarrhea stops. The recommended dosage is as follows:

  • Children younger than 2 years: give them 50-100ml after each diarrhea
  • Children 2-10 years old: give them 100-200ml after each diarrhea
  • Older children: give them to drink according to their needs.

Oresol phase

Mix Oresol solution according to the manufacturer's instructions

For young children, syringes (without needles) or droppers can be used to slowly pump ORS into their mouths. For children older than 2 years old, it is possible to give them each sip with a spoon. Older children give with cups. If the child vomits after taking ORS, it is advisable to stop for about 10 minutes then continue to give ors solution but drink it more slowly.

1.2 How zinc is used in the treatment of diarrhea in children

Zinc supplementation is one of the new recommendations in the current regimen for the treatment of diarrhea in children. Zinc is a very important micro-substance in the child's immune system. When the child has diarrhea, he will lose a large amount of zinc. Zinc supplementation will help children reduce the time and severeness of diarrhea, while strengthening their resistance, reducing the risk of new episodes of diarrhea in the months following treatment and helping to improve their appetite and growth.

It is recommended to give zinc early as soon as there are symptoms of diarrhea. Drinking zinc at the time of hunger will help absorb the drug better. The dosage of zinc in the treatment of diarrhea is recommended as follows:

  • Children younger than 6 months: give them 10mg/day for 10-14 days
  • Children 6 months and older: give them 20mg/day for 10-14 days.

1.3 Vitamin A supplements for children with diarrhea

With diarrhea, the child's ability to absorb vitamin A decreases, while the need for vitamin A increases. Due to the very low amount of vitamin A reserves in the child's body, therefore, when he has diarrhea, he is very vulnerable to eye damage due to vitamin A deficiency. Children with diarrhea should be examined for corneal blurring and conjunctivitis. If these lesions are detected, it is necessary to immediately give vitamin A to the child at the following doses:

  • Children from 12 months to 5 years: 200,000 units/ dose
  • Children from 6 months to 12 months: 100,000 units/dose
  • Children under 6 months: 50,000 units/ dose.

The next day give the child a repeat with the above dose.

For children who have not shown signs of eye damage but are having measles within a month or are severely malnourished, vitamin A supplements should be treated at the same dose.

What does taking vitamin A do for your child?

Use of vitamin A in the treatment of diarrhea, it is necessary to consult a specialist

1.4 Medications for diarrhea in children

Children with dehydration may have a fever. In addition, children with diarrhea may have fever due to infections outside the gastrointestinal tract such as pneumonia, otitis, urinary tract infections,… Therefore, when a child has fever diarrhea, it is necessary to take the child to medical facilities for examination, in order to detect infections in the gastrointestinal tract, especially when the child has had enough fluids and still has a fever.

When a child with high fever needs immediate treatment, treatment involves the use of antipyretics such as paracetamol and appropriate antibiotics to treat bacterial infections.

2. When to use antibiotics for emergency diarrhea?

Antibiotics for acute diarrhea are only used when a child with bloody stool diarrhea, suspected severe dehydration of cholera, and a test for amoeba infections, Gardia duoedenalis. Absolutely do not take antibiotics for common cases of diarrhea because it is ineffective and can be dangerous. Some children after antibiotic treatment have diarrhea, vomiting, or an allergy to antibiotics, which can be life-threatening. At the same time, the abuse of antibiotics can cause bacteria to change, antibiotic resistance, making the drugs no longer able to work well to kill bacteria. The treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections is difficult and expensive. Therefore, antibiotics for diarrhea are only used in children when prescribed by a doctor.

The pediatrics department at Share99 International Health Hub is the address to receive and examine the diseases that babies as well as young children are susceptible to: Viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children,…. With modern equipment, ile space, minimize the impact as well as the risk of spreading the disease. Along with that is the dedication from experienced doctors to pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of parents.

For direct advice, please click hotline number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

3. What drugs should be used with caution in the treatment of diarrhea in children

Anti-diarrhea drugs, although commonly used but not effective in treatment, can also be dangerous for children. Therefore, it is recommended to very limited use for children:

  • Absorption drugs such as Kaolin, Smectic, Attapulgite,… these drugs are capable of hunting apples, inactiving toxins and causing diarrhea. However, there is no clear clinical evidence to prove effectivenesse in the treatment of emergency diarrhea in children.
  • Types of heeding relieves such as Loperamid, Atropine, Opum, Paregoric,… may reduce the number of diarrhea in adults but is not significantly effective in children. These drugs have side effects that cause intestinal paralysis, prolonging the duration of diarrhea. In addition, the drug has a sedative effect, damaging the central nervous system.
  • Bismuth subsalicylate: can reduce the amount of diarrhea in adults, but has little effect on children with diarrhea.
SEE MORE:

  • Diotame medications: Uses, uses and notes when taking
  • Use of Smecta ® (Diosmectite) should be used in the treatment of diarrhea in children under 2 years of age
  • What to do if your child has diarrhea when taking antibiotics to treat bronchitis?

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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