Can children with diarrhea eat sugar?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 20, 2024
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For children with diarrhea, it is best to stick to a light, easily digestible diet. During diarrhea, a child's gastrointestinal function may decline, leading to indigestion or gastrointestinal disorders. In such cases, one must consume foods that are easy to digest, avoiding greasy, spicy, stimulative, and hard-to-digest foods. Meanwhile, sugar should also be largely avoided, as many instances of diarrhea in children are caused by lactose intolerance. Adding sugar under these circumstances can exacerbate the symptoms of diarrhea. Furthermore, some cases of diarrhea in children may lead to temporary lactose intolerance. In such situations, sugar should not be added as well. Thus, when dealing with diarrhea, it is advisable to refrain from consuming sugar.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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What are the treatment methods for infectious diarrhea in children?

For infectious diarrhea in children, it is first important to determine if the cause is viral or bacterial. In general, rehydration should be provided first to prevent dehydration; oral rehydration salts are commonly used to prevent dehydration and replenish electrolytes. Additionally, probiotics can be given to regulate the gut flora, commonly including bifidobacteria. Another option is to administer smectite powder to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa. It is also appropriate to supplement zinc and folic acid to promote the repair of the gastrointestinal mucosa. If a bacterial infection is suspected, sensitive antibiotics can be administered, commonly cephalosporins or penicillins for anti-infection treatment. If a viral infection is considered to be causing the diarrhea, some antiviral medications can be added to the treatment. Pay attention to the baby’s mental response and urination situation.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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How many days will it take for a child's diarrhea to get better?

The duration of diarrhea depends on the child's condition, whether it is physiological or pathological diarrhea. For physiological diarrhea in children, which is mostly due to dietary reasons, adjusting the structure of the diet can usually bring improvement. However, physiological diarrhea is not easy to resolve and can sometimes persist for months. If it is pathological diarrhea, it is necessary to identify whether it is caused by bacteria, viruses, or other specific diseases. In such cases, the first step is to perform a stool test on the infant. This involves collecting the child's stool in a clean container and bringing it to the hospital for examination within an hour to determine the cause, which will then guide further targeted medication adjustments. The duration of the illness will depend on the type of pathogen infecting the child.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Clinical manifestations of childhood diarrhea

Pediatric diarrhea is caused by a variety of pathogens and factors, characterized by an increase in the frequency of bowel movements and changes in the characteristics of stools. It is one of the most common diseases in infants and young children in China, with a high incidence in infants and young children from six months to two years old, half of which are under one year old. It is one of the main causes of malnutrition and growth and development disorders in children. Diarrhea has some common manifestations, including loss of appetite, occasional regurgitation or vomiting, increased frequency of bowel movements, watery or thin stools that are yellow or yellow-green, some with a sour smell. In severe cases of diarrhea, it is important to check for dehydration and electrolyte disorders, as well as symptoms of systemic infection and intoxication, such as fever, irritability or lethargy, drowsiness, pale complexion, and even coma and shock.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Pediatric diarrhea is divided into two main categories.

Childhood diarrhea can be divided into two major categories based on its causes: infectious and non-infectious. Infectious factors primarily include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, among which viral and bacterial infections are most common. Viral infections are mainly seen in rotavirus infections, while bacterial infections are predominantly associated with pathogenic, invasive, toxigenic, and hemorrhagic strains of Escherichia coli. Additionally, infections from other bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella also occur. Intestinal infections can also cause diarrhea, such as those accompanying upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, etc., because the toxins released by the infecting agents during fevers or diarrhea associated with antibiotic treatments can induce diarrhea. Non-infectious causes mainly include dietary and climatic factors.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
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Children's diarrhea is divided into two major categories.

Childhood diarrhea is categorized into infectious and non-infectious diarrhea. Common infectious diarrhea is caused by infections from bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Non-infectious diarrhea often includes allergic diarrhea, diarrhea caused by food intolerance, and diarrhea due to lactose intolerance. Less commonly, some malignant diseases can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction leading to diarrhea. Among children, infectious diarrhea is more prevalent, especially viral diarrhea caused by rotavirus during the summer and autumn seasons. Additionally, bacterial infections such as those caused by Escherichia coli and Shigella (bacterial dysentery), often related to poor hand hygiene, are examples of infectious diarrhea.