Diarrhea in infants and children
The causes of diarrhea are the most common viruses, bacteria and sometimes parasites in our country as in the whole world. Gastrointestinal infections in children cause gastroenteritis, called ”gastroenteritis karın, which is caused by abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Diarrhea is the main finding in gastrointestinal infections. Diarrhea is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. There are some ways to stop diarrhea in infants and children, but the causative agent is important here. Stopping diarrhea is as important as preventing water loss during diarrhea. You should look for different reasons for diarrhea that does not pass.
Causes of diarrhea in infants and children?
Among viruses, Rota virus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis caused by gastrointestinal infections. While rotavirus diarrhea is benign in many people, it is an important public health problem because it is fatal especially in children in underdeveloped and developing countries. In particular, it affects the small intestines and disrupts the absorption of liquid and electrolytes, causing serious fluid loss from the body. Although gastroenteritis caused by viruses is most common in winter and especially in January and February, diarrhea may occur at any time of the year. Virus-induced gastroenteritis is common in children between 6-24 months of age and in infants who do not receive breast milk due to the loss of protective substances passing through the mother with a decrease of 5 months and transition to additional foods. In addition to the route virus, Norwalk and Kalisi virus infections can also cause stomach, intestinal infections due to viruses. However, these viruses are more common in older children and adults. In prolonged viral gastroenteritis, ie diarrhea lasting more than 14 days, the agent is usually adeno viruses.
The most common microbes in bacterial gastrointestinal infections
Microbes that cause diarrhea in infants and children are Coli bacillus, Shigella, Salmonella, Cholera, Campylobacter and Yersinia. Coli is the most common cause of bacterial diarrhea. Sudden developing watery diarrhea and cramp-shaped abdominal pain occurs. Infants less than 6 months of age have restlessness and feeding difficulties, yellow-green color, bloodless and slimy, free of inflammation cells (leukocytes) characterized by feces. Some types can cause bloody diarrhea.
The most typical feature of bacterial gastroenteritis caused by shigella , a causative agent of bacillary dysentery , is bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and remission due to ulcers. Untreated acute cases poop the bacteria for 1-4 weeks and spread the disease.
Salmonella infections cause gastroenteritis in children as well as food poisoning and typhoid fever. These bacteria settle and multiply in the last part of the small intestine and the first parts of the large intestine. It is most commonly seen in the first year after birth. It causes nausea, vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, fever and watery diarrhea. Poop is usually not bloody and a small amount of inflammation cells may be seen. Healthy children can recover spontaneously in 2-7 days. It can cause severe infections in newborns and infants under 3 months and serious diseases and drugs that reduce body resistance. Cholera is a gastrointestinal infection that causes severe diarrhea. Severe fluid loss can cause death.
Entamoeba histolitica, which is the causative agent of amoebic dysentery among parasites that cause stomach, intestinal infections, affects the large intestine and may cause bloody diarrhea. Amoebic dysentery begins with sudden onset abdominal pain, frequent and large amounts of watery or semi-watery defecation. Colitis, inflammation of the large intestine develops plenty of blood and mucus in the poop. Giardia lamblia, another common parasite, settles in the duodenum and biliary tract. It causes oily, yellow colored and foamy diarrhea.
How is diarrhea diagnosed in infants and children?
When infants and children present with diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and vomiting, gastroenteritis caused by gastrointestinal infections should be considered first. Diagnosis should include the presence of inflammation and blood cells in the poo and the investigation of microbes that cause gastrointestinal infection in the poo, blood tests showing the presence of inflammation in the body in general, and the loss of important electrolytes caused by fluid loss.
Diarrhea and vomiting are the most important signs of gastrointestinal infections, resulting in life-threatening fluid loss in children. The most important treatment is the complete and immediate replacement of the required fluid according to the degree and content of the patients' losses. This is especially important in young children and infants. In-hospital treatment is required for severe fluid losses, while home treatment may be sufficient for mild fluid losses.
Antibiotic treatment is not required for infections due to viruses, while antibiotic treatment is required for infections caused by bacteria and parasites. Drugs that stop diarrhea by affecting bowel movements should never be used in children.
Prevention of gastrointestinal infections in children is more important than treatment
Numerous scientific studies have shown that among many other benefits, breastmilk is very important in the protection of these infections, and gastrointestinal infection occurs less frequently in children who have not received breastfeeding for a long time than those who have not. Rota virus vaccine has been found in recent years and its protection is very high. It has been used widely in the world and in our country and very successful results have been obtained.
As a precaution, it is necessary to pay attention to nutrition, cleanliness of food, hand cleaning and cleanliness of the living environment. Many studies have shown that frequent and good washing of hands is highly protective in diarrhea cases. Gastric, intestinal infections are transmitted by the hands of people who come into contact with the poo of the person carrying the bacteria, and by ingesting the germs by mouth. While these infectious agents are transmitted through the feces of the person carrying food and hands, door handles, telephones, nests and toys can also play a role in spreading the infection. For this reason, the most important way to prevent stomach, intestinal infections is to wash hands and follow the cleaning rules.
Diarrhea In mild diarrhea, if prebiotic foods, yogurt, etc. are given, the condition may return to normal.
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