Patient's question:
My son is one year old. He has been having diarrhea these days, not eating, and hiccuping. Sometimes he also vomits, but his spirits are good. What is going on? How should it be treated? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
Hello: It is possibly autumnal gastroenteritis. The following methods can be tried:(1) Dietary Therapy
Appropriate nutritional support during diarrhea is crucial for promoting recovery, reducing weight loss and growth stagnation, shortening the recovery time after diarrhea, and preventing malnutrition. After diarrhea stops, continue providing nutrient-rich foods and add one extra meal daily for two weeks to catch up on normal growth. Children with malnutrition or those in the recovery phase of chronic diarrhea may need a longer duration until malnutrition is resolved.
(2) Care
For infectious diarrhea, attention should be paid to disinfection and isolation. Monitor vomiting, bowel movements, and urination. Administer water or saline-containing oral rehydration solutions on schedule and control the rate of intravenous fluid infusion. Strengthen eye care to prevent aspiration from vomiting. Turn the patient frequently to prevent secondary pneumonia.
(3) Controlling Infection
Viral enteritis is primarily treated with dietary therapy and supportive care, and antibiotics are not required. Non-invasive bacterial acute enteritis is often self-limiting, and supportive therapy alone may lead to recovery. However, antibiotics are still recommended for newborns, infants, weakened children, and severe cases. Invasive bacterial enteritis generally requires antibiotic treatment.
1) Escherichia coli: Gentamicin, pipemidic acid, ofloxacin, furazolidone, certain cephalosporins, cotrimoxazole, berberine, ampicillin, etc.
2) Campylobacter fetus: Erythromycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, furazolidone, ofloxacin.
3) Yersinia enterocolitica: Gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ofloxacin, cotrimoxazole.
4) Salmonella typhimurium: Ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, cefazolin, cefotaxime.