Children may die from severe dehydration from diarrhea

Article written by Dr. CK II Bui Thu Huong – Head of Emergency Unit, Day Care – Children's Center – Share99 Times City International Health Hub

Diarrhea in children depending on the cause will have different signs and treatment regimens. However, if a child suffers from the disease without timely treatment, rehydration and electrolyses, it will lead to dehydration due to diarrhea, separation, cardiovascular failure and possible death.

1. Signs of dehydration due to diarrhea in a child

Diarrhea in a child is a condition where loose stools or water ≥ 3 times in 24 hours. In case the child has emergency diarrhea, the diarrhea will last no more than 14 days.

Diarrhea in children is quite common, the disease can be treated and does not affect the development of the child, however, in the case of not being treated according to the regimen, it can lead to dehydration due to diarrhea and life-threatening if not given a timely emergency.

1.1 Signs of dehydration due to diarrhea from 1 week – 2 months of age

In case of severe dehydration of diarrhea in children:

  • Separation, sunken eyes, difficulty awakening
  • Skin pinching takes very slowly

In case of dehydration with diarrhea in children:

  • Wrestling, stimulation
  • Sunken eyes
  • Skin pinching takes very slowly

Wrestling, stimulation

Children struggling, stimulating is a sign of dehydration diarrhea

1.2 Signs of dehydration due to diarrhea from 2 months to 5 years

In case of severe dehydration of diarrhea in children:

  • Separation, sunken eyes, difficulty awakening
  • Can't drink water or drink poorly
  • Skin pinching takes very slowly

In case of dehydration with diarrhea in children:

  • Wrestling, stimulation
  • Sunken eyes
  • Thirsty, drinking, eager
  • Skin pinching takes very slowly

Thirsty children

Thirsty children are signs of dehydration due to diarrhea

2. Causes of diarrhea in children

  • Rotavirus is the main cause of severe diarrhea and threatens death in children under 2 years of age.
  • Bacteria: E.coli, Shigella, Cholera, Campylobacter Jejuni, Salmonella…
  • Parasites: Giardia, Cryptosporodia, amoeba
  • Other infections: Respiratory NK, Urinary NK, Meningitis,…
  • Emergency diarrhea caused by drugs, food, allergies,…

In addition, a number of factors that increase the risk of emergency diarrhea in children include:

  • Age: 80% of children have diarrhea< 2 tuổi, lứa tuổi cao nhất từ 6-18 tháng .
  • Children with a number of diseases that cause immunodeerence: SDD, post-measles, HIV/AIDS
  • The practice increases the risk of emergency diarrhea:
  1. Bottle feeding or non-breastfeeding in the first 4-6 months
  2. Weaning too early
  3. Contaminated feed
  4. Contaminated or non-cooked drinking water
  5. Do not wash your hands before eating
  6. Season: Summer diarrhea caused by high bacterial infections, winter diarrhea is usually caused by Rotavirus.

Rota virus

Rotavirus causes diarrhea in children

3. Signs of diarrhea in children who need to go to the hospital immediately

  • Children go out more times, feces more water.
  • Thirsty.
  • Fever or higher fever.
  • Nasal blood stools.
  • Vomit everything
  • Refused to eat

4. Children may die from severe dehydration from diarrhea

Children can die from diarrhea dehydration without timely emergency, although this is a treatable disease, parents absolutely must not be subjective when their child has diarrhea. If the child is dehydration due to diarrhea, he/she should be taken to the hospital for examination by the doctor and given a timely diarrhea treatment regimen.

4.1 Regimen A for children with diarrhea dehydration

  • Treatment of cases of diarrhea in children who have not yet shown dehydration. Amount of drinking: Give the child water after each outing with the following amount of water:
  • Oresol solution (ORS) low osmosis pressure is best
  • How to give:
  1. young < 2 tuổi, cho uống từng thìa, trẻ lớn cho uống từng ngụm một bằng cốc hoặc bằng bát.
  2. The child vomits, stops waiting 5-10 minutes after re-drinking.

4.2 Regimen B for children with diarrhea dehydration

  • Treatment of moderate and mild dehydration, ors for pediatric patients based on weight or age (if weight is not possible)
  • Amount of ORS given orally in the first 4 hours (ml):
  • Amount of water (ml) = Pediatric patient weight x 75 ml.
  • How to give:
  1. Children 2 years old give each spoon, every 1-2 minutes give 1 tablespoon, for older children give each sip with a cup.
  2. If the child vomits, stop drinking for 10 minutes then give it slower.
  3. After 4 hours of re-evaluation of dehydration; if the signs of dehydration in the child are gone, they will switch to regimen A, the child still shows signs of dehydration in a medium and mild child, then continue according to regimen B. If it weighs up, switch to regimen C.

4.3 Regimen C for children with diarrhea dehydration

  • Applied in cases of severe dehydration
  • Intravenous infusion of 100ml/kg of Ringe Lactate solution (or physiological saline solution) divided in quantity and time as follows:
  • Every 1-2 hours re-evaluate the patient. Transfer again in the same amount and time if the rotation circuit is weak or not caught. If dehydration does not progress well, it transmits faster.
  • As soon as the patient can drink, give ors (5ml/kg/hour).
  • If it is not transmitable, install a gastric cathetro for ORS in the amount of 20ml/kg/hour (total 120ml/kg)
  • Feed again as soon as your child is able to eat, such as continuing breastfeeding or feeding them nutritious foods

4.4 Treatment to support children with diarrhea dehydration

  • Zinc supplementation in the treatment of emergency diarrhea:
  1. Child 1 – < 6 tháng tuổi: 10mg/ngày x 10 – 14 ngày
  2. Infant ≥ 6 months: 20mg/day x 10 – 14 days
  • S.. Boulardii: 200 – 250mg/day x 5 – 6 days combined with full rehydration and electrolyt.
  • Racecadotril: 1.5mg/kg/time 3 times daily in combination with rehydration, adequate electrolyt electrolyt and no more than 7 days
  • Do not use vomiting drugs, take them outside
  • Ensure nutrition: continue breastfeeding or milk before, do not dilute milk, avoid carbohydrates

Infants taking the drug

Treatment of diarrhea in young children

5. How to prevent children from dehydration due to diarrhea?

To prevent children from dehydration due to diarrhea, it is necessary to:

  • Breastfeeding
  • Use vaccines against diseases: Sufficient vaccination under the expanded vaccination program. Specific prevention of diarrhea with vaccines: Rotavirus, cholera, welding.
  • Use clean water for hygiene and eating
  • Practice food safety and hygiene when processing or preserving food.
  • Wash your hands often when caring for your child
  • Use a toilet pit

To register for examination and treatment at Share99 International Health Hub, you can contact Share99 Health System nationwide, or register for an online examination HERE.

VIEW MORE

  • Handling when a child has an emergency diarrhea
  • Is Rota virus-infecting emergency diarrhea?
  • Common complications and common mistakes about emergency diarrhea

SEE MORE:

  • What to do if you have urinary tract inflammation after sex?
  • Causes and signs of urinary tract inflammation
  • How to treat urinary tract infections in children

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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