What medicine should children take for gastroenteritis

The gastrointestinal development of infants and young children is not yet complete, and they are easily threatened by diseases, which often lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion. At this time, you can take some medicines suitable for children under the guidance of a doctor. The more common ones include Mommy Love, Weikang Granules, or Pi Ke Xin and other medicines. Of course, in addition to medication, you must strengthen your daily life and replenish water in time to prevent your child from dehydration.

1. Pay attention to fluid replacement and avoid dehydration

Pay attention to dehydration symptoms: whether the child urinates less (the baby needs fewer diaper changes), cries without tears, has dry and inelastic skin, or has a sunken fontanelle. Regardless of whether the child has received an IV drip or not, you can buy electrolyte water specifically for diarrhea and give it to your child to drink as water.

An IV may be necessary if a child's level of consciousness is decreased or if dehydration is severe. But oral rehydration therapy is still a good way to replenish fluids. Drinks high in simple sugars, such as soda, fruit juice, etc., are not recommended for children under 5 years old because they may worsen diarrhea. If there is no special oral rehydration solution or it tastes bad, plain water can also be used. If indicated, nasogastric tubes can also be used in children to supplement fluids.

2. Pay attention to diet and continue breastfeeding

Formula-fed infants should continue formula feeding immediately after ORT rehydration. You can try brewing it with half milk (i.e. diluting the concentration by half) first. If the diarrhea condition does not improve within 3-7 days, you may need to switch to lactose-free milk powder (i.e. commercially available laxative milk powder) under the doctor's instructions.

3. Antiemetics

Antiemetic medications may help treat vomiting in children, but they must be taken as directed by your doctor. Ondansetron has some utility, with a single dose reducing the need for intravenous fluids, hospitalization, and vomiting. However, the use of ondansetron may be associated with an increased risk of hospital readmission in children. If clinically necessary, ondansetron can also be administered orally in the intravenous form. Metoclopramide may be effective.

4. Antibiotics

Antibiotics are not routinely used for gastroenteritis but may be recommended if symptoms are particularly severe or if a susceptible bacterium is identified or a bacterial infection is suspected. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that antibiotics be used for children who have both blood in their stools and a fever.

5. Antidiarrheal drugs

Do not use antidiarrheal medicines in children—they may be dangerous. Antidiarrheal drugs have a theoretical risk of complications, although clinical experience suggests that this is unlikely, and are not recommended in cases of diarrhea with blood in the stool or fever. Loperamide is an opioid analog commonly used for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. However, loperamide is not suitable for use in children because the drug may cross the immature blood-brain barrier in children and cause toxicity. Children's gastroenteritis is much more complicated than adult gastroenteritis, so be sure to see a doctor.

Indicators of hospitalization for gastroenteritis in children

If a child has a persistent high fever for more than 48 hours, accompanied by vomiting, severe diarrhea, and more than 10 diarrhea episodes a day, he or she should be hospitalized. In addition, if diarrhea leads to severe dehydration (significant weight loss and decreased urine volume), coupled with lethargy and loss of appetite, and treatment with medication and electrolyte solutions is ineffective, hospitalization is also required.