Nutrition for children with diarrhea

During a child's diarrhea, they should be fed soft foods such as thin white rice porridge, carrot and lean meat porridge, stewed carrots, chicken soup, and stewed potatoes.

According to Doctor Tran Thi Minh Nguyet, diarrhea is a condition characterized by passing loose or watery stools more than three times a day. It commonly occurs in children, especially those between 6 months and 2 years old. It is divided into two types: One is...Acute diarrhea occurs suddenly and lasts no more than 14 days (usually less than 7 days); secondly, diarrhea lasts more than 2 weeks.

Children with diarrhea often suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to death due to the loss of large amounts of water and salt from the body. To help children recover quickly from diarrhea and avoid malnutrition, it is necessary to provide adequate food and drink as soon as possible when they want to eat.

Children with diarrhea should be given soft, easily digestible foods. Photo: News.

In treating diarrhea, the most important thing is to prevent dehydration by:Drink more fluids than usual, such as cooled boiled water, ORS (oral rehydration solution), or solutions from foods like porridge, salted rice water, roasted rice water, or rice water.Amount to drink after each bowel movement:For children under 2 years old: 50 to 100 ml.Children aged 2 to 10 years old should drink 100 to 200 ml.Children aged 10 and above, and adults, should drink as needed.

Instructions for preparing a solution used in the treatment of diarrhea:

- ORS Solution: Wash your hands with soap and clean water before preparing the solution. Pour the powder from the sachet into a clean water container or kettle. Measure one liter of clean water (or the appropriate amount for the specific sachet used), preferably boiled and cooled water; if this is not possible, use the cleanest water available. Pour the water into the container and shake well until the powder is completely dissolved. Close the container and give it to the child within 24 hours. Discard any prepared solution after 24 hours and prepare a fresh batch.

- Salted rice porridge water: Use a handful of rice, a pinch of salt, and 6 bowls of clean water, then simmer until soft. Strain through a sieve and give the liquid to the child to drink gradually.

- Salted roasted rice water: Roast 50g of rice (a handful) until golden brown, add 6 bowls of water, cook until soft, strain through a sieve, add a teaspoon of salt, and give it to the child to drink gradually.

- Banana juice, sapodilla juice: Blend or mash 5 bananas or sapodillas with one liter of cooled boiled water and add a level teaspoon of salt. Give this to the child gradually.

- Salted carrot soup: 500g carrots, one level teaspoon of salt, eight teaspoons of sugar. Cook the carrots until tender, then mash them through a sieve or blend them in a blender until smooth. Add a pinch of salt, bring to a boil again, and give to the child gradually.

Foods that are suitable for children with diarrhea include rice (rice flour), potatoes, lean chicken, lean pork, soy milk, cooking oil, carrots, persimmons, and bananas.

Infants under 6 months old who are still breastfeeding should continue to breastfeed as usual and increase the frequency of feedings.For children over 6 months old, in addition to breast milk, they need to be given small amounts of nutritious foods such as meat, eggs, fish, and milk more frequently and in smaller portions. Note: Add a little oil or fat to increase the energy content of the meal.

Food for children with diarrhea must be soft, thoroughly cooked, and more diluted than usual. It should be given immediately after cooking to ensure hygiene and reduce the risk of secondary infection. If pre-cooked food is necessary, it should be reheated before serving. Give the child ripe fruits or fruit juices such as bananas, oranges, lemons, mangoes, and papayas to increase potassium intake. Avoid sugary soft drinks as they can worsen diarrhea.

During this time, you should avoid giving your baby foods high in fiber.indigestibleor low in nutrients such as raw vegetables, whole grain starches (corn, beans...).Avoid foods high in sugar, as they can worsen diarrhea.

Parents should encourage their children to eat as much as possible. Young children should be fed six times a day or more.After recovering from diarrhea, to help the child recover quickly and avoid malnutrition, an extra meal should be given daily for two weeks. For children with prolonged diarrhea, an extra meal should be given daily for at least one month.

According to VNE