Can Cause Dehydration, Here are 6 Ways to Overcome Diarrhea in Infants

Kapanlagi.com - For adults, experiencing diarrhea can be very disturbing. Then, what if it happens to a baby? It will certainly make them feel uncomfortable, causing the baby to be fussy all day long. In addition, the baby will also become weak due to lack of fluids. Basically, diarrhea is caused by viruses, bacterial infections, and parasites that attack the digestive system.

Diarrhea is characterized by increased frequency of bowel movements and loose stools. When experiencing diarrhea, infants will lose a lot of body fluids which can cause dehydration. This is because the intestines are unable to absorb the fluids and electrolytes provided, causing the loss of body fluids to not be quickly replaced.

However, babies are more prone to experiencing dehydration or excessive fluid loss. Therefore, overcoming dehydration is important in managing diarrhea in children. What should be done? Read the complete review below.

1. Do Clinical Observation

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When encountering a baby with diarrhea, parents need to perform clinical observation. Pay attention to whether the feces contain blood or not. Also, make sure to check for signs of dehydration, such as decreased frequency of urination, the baby being fussy and not producing tears when crying, always feeling drowsy and lethargic, dry lips, sunken fontanelle, and the baby's skin no longer being elastic (the skin does not return to its original position when pinched or pressed).

2. Provide Adequate Fluid Intake

Babies who have diarrhea will experience dehydration. To address this, ensure that the baby receives adequate fluid intake. If the baby is still breastfeeding, increase the frequency of nursing.

Meanwhile, for babies who consume formula milk, it is advisable to reduce the viscosity of the milk or temporarily switch to lactose-free milk. This aims to alleviate the workload of the intestines and prevent the diarrhea from worsening.

3. Giving Oralit

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Babies who experience diarrhea should be given oral rehydration solution (Oralit) made with a mixture of salt, sugar, and water. Give this Oralit solution to the baby so that their body can replace the lost body salt during diarrhea.

In addition, a liquid in the form of a mixture of salt, sugar, and water is now widely available at nearby pharmacies. This is more practical and tastes better. Basically, buying from a pharmacy or making it yourself both have good benefits for babies who are experiencing diarrhea.

4. Provide Easily Digestible Food

If a baby who is already eating solid foods (MPASI) experiences diarrhea, it is advisable for parents to provide high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits, cheese, and meat. It is also advisable for the mother to lower the texture of the baby's food to make it easier to digest. Give the baby foods such as bananas, porridge, and cereal to solidify the stool, so that diarrhea will stop more quickly.

5. Do Not Restrict Baby's Food

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When a baby has diarrhea, it is best not to restrict their food intake, as restricting food can actually worsen the diarrhea. Therefore, breastfeed the baby using either breast milk or lactose-free formula for at least 1 week. In addition, make sure your baby consumes plain water in addition to breast milk when they are under 6 months old. Water can relieve stomach pain and release gas from the baby's stomach.

6. Baby Gum Massage

Did you know that sometimes babies who have diarrhea are caused by teething pain? Therefore, to overcome this, you can give the baby safe toys to chew on. In addition, you can also massage the baby's gums to alleviate the pain.

Those are a series of ways to deal with diarrhea in babies. However, if you find your baby having diarrhea accompanied by blood spots, consult a doctor immediately. Hopefully, it is useful.

(kpl/dtm)