|
|
Meet the
Pediatrician - in a conversational mood - PERIODIC UPDATES :
Page
1 |
2 |
3
| 4
|
5 |
6 |
7 |
8
Previous |
Next
|
|
UPDATE - 5
DIARRHEA
If you go through the matter on the Healthybaccha.com - there is a fair
amount on Diarrhea.
However , there are some peculiar practice points I feel like sharing with
you.
There would perhaps not be a single family where the child would not have
suffered Diarrhea.
This is a condition that may pass off lightly or may get really nasty,
requiring admission to a Hospital for intravenous fluids.
Bacterial v/s Viral Diarrhea:
As a general thumb rule , almost all diarrheas are Viral and the commonest
is Rotavirus.
' Viral ' is a word we all hear so often and we also understand it is almost
always a self - limiting , time defined illness where it will run its own
natural course.The poor Doctor intervenes for two reasons :
- You went to him , so he had to dole out
some prescription !
- He gives some medicines that help make
the discomfort less , like
control of fever, runny nose etc.
Similar is the case with viral diarrheas -
they SHALL run their usual course
of some 3-5 days and your reaction to the problem would be individual. There
are mothers who understand the basic fundamental and are prepared to wait
( in misery , no doubt). Then there are mothers who would call up the
Pediatrician at almost every stool passed and, between ourselves - we tend
( please excuse the tongue in cheek expression ) a painful / hysterical /
fussy.. mother! These mothers suffer the risk of over-medication - a case of
Pediatrician under duress !
Diarrhea has only one problem that is of medical importance - and that is
the body fluid loss
( known as dehydration) . Once dehydration gets significant -
hospitalization can not be avoided. But you play the key role in the whole
game by ADHERING STRICTLY TO ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION ( ORS ).
Please keep giving as much ORS or other substitutes ( as below ) as you
can - you yourself can prevent hospitalization :
- Skikanji = Neembu Paani ( a solution of
some sugar, some salt and
some lime ) - the essential components are sugar and salt.
- Weak tea ( i.e. less milk )
- Plenty of curds or buttermilk
- Custard powder - sweetened less than
usual.You may add banana to
it.The cornflour in the custard powder is a good stool binding agent -
banana further increases the binding capacity
- Banana, preferably mashed in curd - or
else plain banana
- If you child is fussy about not
accepting ORS - try one of those
lime flavoured aerated cold drinks ( like Limca , Sprite..) , pour the
liquid from some height into tumbler so that the fizz escapes - add a dash
of salt.
Your child will love it , love your Pediatrician too !
Bacterial diarrheas have some specific features:
- Usually associated with fever
- There might be blood mixed with stools
- Usually very foul smelling
Here, there is no chance to be taken and
your Pediatrician will happily
prescribe an antibiotic.
Some More Practical Tips on Diarrhea :
- Please use moistened cotton to wipe his
backside.Ideally , you may
pour some water and then just dab the area with moistened cotton.Wet wipes
are commercially available and are nice ( they burn a hole in your pocket
though )
The reason behind this is that with passage of several stools , the area
around the anus tends to get red. This causes two things. One, it is
painful.Second, this sets up a local reflex reaction between the inflammed
skin and the intestine leading to small squirts of stools.This develops
into
a vicious cycle : inflammation - reflex stooling - need to wipe - further
inflammation.
You may be helped by keeping the anal area as undisturbed as possible and
NOT to use a nappy cloth to wipe the anus.
There are medicated creams available - your Pediatrician may prescribe one
if he feels the need.
- Diarrhea commonly is associated with
colicky pain in the tummy -
you may ask your Pediatrician for some anti-colic medicine if you feel
your
child is extremely cranky.
- Please keep feeding the child solids /
semi solids.Try and avoid
top milk.Breast milk is okay.
The reason is simple.If there is nothing
but water in the Intestines, there
is nothing but water that he shall expel.Foods help provide a stool binding
medium.
|
