What department should a child with diarrhea visit?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on November 07, 2024
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Childhood diarrhea is a disease of the digestive system. If treated at a general hospital, the child should definitely see a pediatrician. If the diarrhea is severe, accompanied by moderate to severe dehydration, it is advisable to visit emergency pediatrics for urgent treatment. If going to a children's specialty hospital, it is recommended to see a gastroenterologist; severe cases can also go to emergency pediatrics. Additionally, if there is mucus, pus, or bloody stool, consider bacterial dysentery or other infectious diarrhea, and it is advised to see an infectious disease specialist. Generally, for ordinary diarrhea, it is advisable to visit a smaller hospital for treatment.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
57sec home-news-image

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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
45sec home-news-image

What department should a child with diarrhea visit?

Childhood diarrhea is a disease of the digestive system. If treated at a general hospital, the child should definitely see a pediatrician. If the diarrhea is severe, accompanied by moderate to severe dehydration, it is advisable to visit emergency pediatrics for urgent treatment. If going to a children's specialty hospital, it is recommended to see a gastroenterologist; severe cases can also go to emergency pediatrics. Additionally, if there is mucus, pus, or bloody stool, consider bacterial dysentery or other infectious diarrhea, and it is advised to see an infectious disease specialist. Generally, for ordinary diarrhea, it is advisable to visit a smaller hospital for treatment.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
37sec home-news-image

Is it normal for a child with diarrhea to just sleep?

Infant diarrhea accompanied by excessive sleep is often abnormal. Generally speaking, diarrhea can lead to dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. In this case, the primary focus should be on rehydration to maintain electrolyte balance, adjusting the gut flora, and using some antidiarrheal medications for additional treatment.If the baby is only sleeping, it often indicates dehydration or symptoms of electrolyte imbalance. Under these circumstances, it is crucial to go to a hospital to check for any imbalance in electrolytes, acidosis, etc., and provide timely symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Child diarrhea test items

Pediatric diarrhea is a common disease in children characterized by an increase in stool frequency and specific stool shapes, caused by multiple pathogens and factors. Common tests for children with diarrhea start with routine stool tests. Stool culture is meaningful for identifying the pathogens causing diarrhea, and the latex agglutination test has diagnostic value for viral gastroenteritis. The stool-reducing sugar test primarily assesses malabsorption of disaccharides, lactose intolerance, etc. Counting and classifying white blood cells mainly clarify the presence of bacterial infections. Since diarrhea often accompanies electrolyte disturbances and dehydration, biochemical blood tests are necessary, and sometimes, X-rays of the abdominal plain film, ultrasound, endoscopy, and other examinations are needed.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What is a good medicine for children's diarrhea?

An increase in the frequency of bowel movements in children, accompanied by a change in stool characteristics, indicates diarrhea. When a child has diarrhea, the first step should be to test a stool routine to determine whether it is infectious diarrhea or non-infectious diarrhea. In cases of infectious diarrhea, antibiotics should be used under the guidance of a hospital doctor. If the diarrhea is caused by indigestion or rotavirus infection, symptomatic treatment is generally used. Firstly, feeding should continue. For children with watery stools, we should give them oral mucosal protectants, probiotics, and oral rehydration salts. For those with prolonged diarrhea, specifically diagnosed as caused by rotavirus infection, children should be supplemented with zinc for a period, as zinc can promote the repair of intestinal mucosal damage. This means that it can speed up the improvement of diarrhea, while also preventing the recurrence of diarrhea symptoms. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)