Diarrhea

Diarrhea comes from the Greek word diarrhoia. Dia means "flow" and rrhoia means "through". The term "flowing through" was coined by Hippocrates (Wikipedia). Diarrhea is mainly caused by enteroaggregative E. coli. Diarrhea is commonly known as a condition that involves the frequent passing of loose or watery stools and much more need to go to the bathroom. It can generally disappear in few days even without treatment (Higuera in Healthline.com).

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates approximately 3.5 million deaths each year which are attributable to diarrhea. Children under the age of 5 years were the dominant number about 80%. Children are more susceptible to the complications of diarrhea because a smaller amount of fluid loss leads to dehydration, compared to adults. Children with diarrhea problem will eventually need to go to the bathroom more than once a day and it is watery loose, green or grey, and smell different from usual sometimes like a rancid egg.

There are many causes of diarrhea but when it eventually disappears in one or two days and children look fresh, healthy, and fun, there is no need to worry. First time aid to avoid children from dehydrate when they got diarrhea problem is giving much water supply to substitute the loose body liquid and add a little sugar.

WHEN DOES IT NEED TO CALL THE DOCTOR?

There are mainly two kinds of diarrhea, i.e.  Acute diarrhea, meaning diarrhea that is not long-term, is a very common cause death in developing nations, especially among young children and babies. It usually appears rapidly and may last from between five to ten days and Chronic diarrhea, meaning long-term diarrhea is the second cause of death among children in developing countries. When it is last after 6 hours that the children still struggle with diarrhea problem, you as a parent need to call the doctor to have several treatments. When it is last up to more than 36 hours without any changing or even getting worse, it is highly recommended to go to the hospital to get better treatment.

When the children got diarrhea, avoid eating, or vomit, he/she might be gastroenteritis. It is a inflammation of flank or entrails that can cause a bad dehydration. So, in other word, you must call the doctor or visit nearest hospital or clinic when there are some codes or symptoms, as follow:

1.    Children got fever and vomit.

2.    There is blood on the children’s feces.

3.    Children look tired, exhausted, and sick.

4.    Children have several signs of having dehydration, i.e. dry mouth and lips, less o little urinary and coloring black, no urinary in 6 hours, and looking very tired.

There are several tips that can maybe become helpful if your children get diarrhea problem and the last advice that the writer wants to share is that immediately call the doctor to get better treatment or immediately have a first aid to avoid bad dehydration on children.  

More reading:

Nordqvist, C. (2009, July 23). "What Is Diarrhea? What Causes Diarrhea?." Medical News Today. Retrieved from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158634.

Diarrhea Written by Valencia Higuera. Retrieved from: http://www.healthline.com/health/diarrhea