What to do when your child has diarrhoea

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 4 billion cases of acute diarrhoea worldwide every year, including about 1.6 million deaths from acute diarrhoea in children under 5.

NUTRITION

Children with diarrhoea should be given foods that are easy to digest and absorb, and rich in protein, vitamin A, zinc, B vitamins (B1, B2) and potassium, to quickly restore the cells of the gut lining and the gut's digestive function. Examples include chicken, lean pork, carrots, potatoes, bananas...

During acute diarrhoea, fat absorption drops by 30%, so replace animal fats with vegetable oils containing easily absorbed unsaturated fatty acids with few double bonds, such as soybean oil, olive oil, sunflower oil...

There are many reasons children get diarrhoea: the most common cause is a gut infection caused by viruses, bacteria or parasites. Children can also get diarrhoea from food allergies, food intolerance, an unsuitable diet, long-term antibiotic use...

If diarrhoea isn't controlled, the body loses a lot of fluid and it can be fatal. To avoid unfortunate complications, rehydrating your child and giving them a suitable diet is extremely important.

Here is what to do when your child has diarrhoea:

• Rehydrate your child with an oral rehydration solution such as Oresol or Hydrite. Make it up according to the instructions on the packet and give your child small sips. Keep rehydrating until stools become thicker. The amount of rehydration solution to give is worked out as follows:
• If your child is still breastfed: breastfeed more often and for longer at each feed than usual.
• If your child is < 2 years: give 50-100ml of rehydration solution after each loose stool
• If your child is > 2 years: give 100-200ml of rehydration solution after each loose stool
• Give your child all 4 food groups (starches and sugars, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals) to make sure they get complete nutrition.
• Diarrhoea can put your child off food, so split their food into several small meals, no more than 2 hours apart. Note: Don't scold or pressure your child at mealtimes.
• Give soft, runny, easily digested foods (porridge, soup, milk...) and avoid spicy seasonings such as chilli, pepper, onions...

Take your child to a healthcare facility straight away if they pass watery stools many times, vomit, eat or drink poorly or refuse to feed, are no better after 2 days of treatment, have a high fever, or have blood in their stools.

Keep your child clean, give them only well-cooked food and boiled water, and choose hygienic food sources. Also ask your doctor about the right vaccine to protect your child against diarrhoea

Reference: Caring for Newborns and Young Children in the 4.0 Era, Ministry of Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health, 2020