Overcoming diarrhea in children at home in 6 surefire ways

Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to diarrhea. Diarrhea in young children generally tends to be so debilitating that they cannot freely play and learn comfortably. Symptoms of severe diarrhea can even cause children to become dehydrated. So, what ways can parents do to treat diarrhea in children at home? Read the full review here.

There are many ways to deal with diarrhea in children at home

Symptoms of diarrhea usually resolve on their own in 1-2 days. Even so, diarrhea in children may even get worse if you do not accompany them in various ways to deal with the disease.

So, so that you don't take any wrong steps, here are some things you can try to do to relieve diarrhea in children at home:

1. Give drink plenty

Young children who have diarrhea are usually fussy more often because of thirst. However, in some cases, severe diarrhea actually makes children lazy to drink.

Regardless of whether the child is thirsty or not, it is important to regularly give him drinking water frequently if he has diarrhea. Giving him lots of drinking water can overcome or prevent dehydration that often occurs in children when diarrhea.

Don't forget to pay attention to the cleanliness of the drinking water you provide for your little one. Make sure the drinking water comes from clean and boiled water so as not to increase the risk of bacterial contamination.

However, do not give fruit juices to children with diarrhea. Frank Greer, MD, explains on the Baby Center website, that although it contains water, vitamins and minerals, juices tend to trigger stomach aches which can worsen the child's condition.

Also, don't give water to babies who are less than 6 months old. For babies, the most ideal way to meet their body's fluid needs is by giving milk. Therefore…

2. Do not stop breastfeeding

If the child is still breastfeeding, do not stop breastfeeding. Continued breastfeeding is the best way to treat diarrhea and prevent dehydration in babies and children up to 2 years of age.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Center for Data and Information, breast milk is a safe source of energy for children who are sick because its nutrients support the healing process from disease.

Lactose contained in breast milk does not make diarrhea worse. In addition, breast milk contains antibodies from the mother's body that can strengthen the baby's immunity.

3. Alternate water with ORS

Apart from plain water, giving ORS can be a fast way to deal with diarrhea in young children over the age of 6 months.

ORS is a drug to replace electrolyte levels and body fluids lost due to dehydration. ORS is available in powder form which must be dissolved in water or in a ready-to-drink liquid form.

Children less than 1 year old can be given ORS as much as 50-100 ml, while children over 1 year old can be given as much as 100-200 milliliters. However, parents may need to spoon the solution a little into the child's mouth if he is not used to drinking from a glass by himself. ORS is able to restore body fluid levels within 8-12 hours after consumption.

ORS can be purchased at drugstores or pharmacies. However, you can also make this solution yourself as a way to treat diarrhea in children at home. You simply mix two teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of table salt in one glass of clean, boiled water.

If you are still unsure about the dosage of ORS in your child, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.

4. Give him small meals

Diarrhea can reduce the child's appetite. Even so, children still have to eat to meet their nutritional intake and recharge their energy so they don't feel weak constantly.

So that children want to eat, you can outsmart it by providing smaller but frequent meals. Giving direct food in large portions can actually trigger his stomach to become sicker.

So, instead of eating large portions of your little one 3 times a day, it's better to give him 6 calorie dense foods a day.

5. Choose foods that are easy to digest

If your child is getting used to eating solid food, you need to be more careful in choosing food for him. Find out first what foods are good for children when diarrhea and which foods should be avoided when defecating.

Foods that are good for treating diarrhea in children are foods that are soft in texture, calorie dense, and easy to digest. Children who have started complementary foods or solid foods can be given rice porridge without coconut milk, mashed bananas, soft boiled carrots, or shredded boiled chicken, fish or beef.

Meanwhile, avoid giving foods high in fiber. Foods high in fiber can make the child's stool soften so that the diarrhea gets worse. So when your child is still having diarrhea, don't feed him broccoli, pears and mustard greens.

Also avoid foods that are high in fat and fried in oil. These foods can overload the intestines, which can slow down the healing process.

Also pay attention to certain food choices if the child has allergies or intolerances. The reason is, foods that trigger the immune system to overreact can make the diarrhea worse.

6. Give diarrhea medicine as a last solution

If the various home methods above do not work to treat diarrhea in children, do not delay checking your little one to the doctor. Especially if the child has had diarrhea for days without changing conditions.

The doctor may be able to prescribe a diarrhea medication that is safe for the child and a further treatment plan.

Do not give your little one other food or drink beyond what is recommended before the age of 6 months without a doctor's advice.