These include:. Diarrhea may be caused by an infection viral, bacterial, or parasite , food allergy or sensitivity, a medical condition such as inflammatory bowel disease, or a reaction to a medication.
If your toddler is vomiting, has watery stools, or is unable or unwilling to drink because of an illness, monitor them for signs of dehydration. Be ready to respond. Dehydration can happen very slowly over time, or it can happen suddenly. Toddlers with an illness, especially stomach flu, should be monitored closely for signs of dehydration. Instead, look out for these warning signs:.
The only way to effectively treat dehydration is to replenish the lost fluids. Mild dehydration can be managed at home. If your toddler has diarrhea, vomiting, or fever, or is showing signs of dehydration, take the following steps.
If your toddler is excessively thirsty, it may already be too late. Here are some steps to take to prevent dehydration. Have an oral rehydration solution on hand at all times. These are available in liquids, popsicles, and powders. Learn to recognize the warning signs. Urinary tract infections UTIs are very common in children. Intravenous IV rehydration is a procedure used to treat moderate to severe cases of dehydration. Learn what this procedure involves. Being dehydrated can negatively affect your body and brain.
The higher the point total, the worse the dehydration. A score of 5 points means your child has moderate to severe dehydration. The treatment of dehydration is based on how dehydrated your child is. Over-the-counter medications to treat vomiting and diarrhea are not recommended for children. Take your child to see a doctor or go to the nearest hospital for assessment and treatment right away. Offer your child diluted apple juice, followed by their prefered drink or oral rehydration solutions to replace the water and salts your child has lost.
Oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Gastrolyte, Enfalyte or other brands contain a properly balanced amount of water, sugars and salts to help the body absorb the fluid.
Giving your child water on its own is not enough because water lacks sugars and salts, which are needed to treat dehydration. Give your child 5 to 10 mL 1 to 2 teaspoons every five minutes.
Slowly increase this amount to reach the amount your child will tolerate. If your baby is breastfeeding, continue to breastfeed. If your baby refuses to breastfeed, see a doctor immediately. Continue to offer your child fluids and an age-appropriate diet. If your child has vomiting or diarrhea, give diluted apple juice, their preferred drink or oral rehydration solution for each diarrhea or vomiting episode.
Continue to offer your child small frequent feedings. Once your child is better hydrated, the next step is to work toward getting them back to what they normally eat. This can usually happen about four to six hours after the last episode of vomiting. Do not give drinks that are high in sugar e. If your baby is under six months old, they should always be seen by a doctor if they are dehydrated.
For babies over six months:. For older children over 10 kg who are dehydrated, give at least one cup mL of water or oral rehydration solution to drink, every hour for four hours. Give them more than this to drink if they are vomiting or have diarrhoea.
Your child may want to drink it all at once or drink smaller sips frequently. Babies and young children are at greater risk of becoming dehydrated.
If your child is under six months of age or has a chronic long-term illness, see your GP if you think your child is dehydrated. If your child shows signs of severe dehydration or you are concerned for any reason, see your GP or go to your closest hospital emergency department.
If your child is unwell, they may need medical treatment to help replace lost fluids. This can involve using a feeding tube that goes into the stomach via the nose, or fluids given directly into a vein through a drip intravenous or IV therapy. Making sure your child drinks enough water each day can help prevent dehydration. Providing extra drinks of water in hot weather, during and after exercise and during illness is particularly important.
Should my child drink sports drinks when playing sports to prevent dehydration? Dehydration means your body loses more fluids than you take in. If it's not treated, it can get worse and become a serious problem. If you find it hard to drink because you feel sick or have been sick, start with small sips and then gradually drink more. You can use a spoon to make it easier for your child to swallow the fluids. You should drink enough during the day so your pee is a pale clear colour.
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