Don’t let diarrhoea win over your kids!

No kid would say no to spending a day in the playground. Although spending a day in the playground could be fun for your child, it could also mean they're exposed to certain harmful bacteria that can cause different problems like diarrhoea. What is diarrhoea and how can kids get them? Let's first understand the causes of diarrhoea in children and then we can move to how you can prevent or treat it. Different causes of diarrhoea are as follows:

• Viruses (most common)
• Bacteria
• Parasites

While these remain some of the most common triggers of diarrhoea, some other reasons could be:

• Food allergies
• Lactose intolerance
• High-sugar diet
• Severe intestine problems like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease

Now that you know what can trigger diarrhoea, here are some points that will let you identify it.                It initially starts with stomach ache, followed by loose bowel movement that can last 2–4 days. These can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea

Often a mild bout of diarrhoea is treated on its own. The most common symptoms kids experience is vomiting or dehydration. Normal food can be resumed if they don't show any signs of nausea or dehydration. Although continuing a regular diet might help, do not serve them any heavy protein or high fibre foods. It's also best if you stick to serving smaller portions of food until the diarrhoea bout ends. It's best to consult a doctor before you resort to any over the counter or diarrhoea medicines.

How to deal with your child's dehydration?

Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are a great alternative to replace the lost fluids during diarrhoea. Please consult a doctor before serving any oral rehydration solutions or other anti-diarrhoea meds. Your child needs sodium, potassium and other important nutrients & minerals, so water alone cannot help. Enterogermina is every pediatrician's no. 1 probiotic choice. It maintains the flora-balance, improves your child’s immunity and provides gentle gut care during fighting diarrhoea. Make sure your child is getting an ample amount of nutrients & minerals to fight dehydration.

Children’s unhinged and curious nature often puts them in a harm's way to viruses like diarrhoea. But there are some ways to make it less likely:

• Ensure kids wash their hands often and they do it thoroughly. Hand washing is the best way to prevent any infections not just diarrhoea. Poor personal hygiene habits can trigger different problems as they tend to bite their nails, suck their thumbs, etc.
• Ensure your bathroom surfaces and toilets are clean and sanitized often. Also, pay special attention to kitchen counters and cooking utensils ensuring they are clean before you start cooking.
• Refrigerate meats instantly and make sure they're cooked properly.
• Ensure you have separate sinks to wash pet cages or pet bowls. Avoid doing it in the same sink that you use to prepare food as it can act as a trigger when it comes to children.

Diarrhoea often treats itself but it’s hard to manage without medicines. Although some diarrhoea medicine in the market can help ease the diarrhoea symptoms, it's best to consult a doctor before taking any steps.