The Festive Season is here! All the way from December to January the feasting will go on and on. Your well–planned diet for your little ones will be very hard to implement. And, before you know it, they will be eating all kinds of food from so many different places. If you are worried that the festivities may culminate in an episode of food poisoning, read on to be prepared with the information and some really useful tools in the First Aid cabinet.
Ensure that your children eat clean and safe food. If the food looks or smells suspicious do not let your kids eat it. In our hot and humid condition, it is best not to leave food at room temperature for long periods of time. If you have noted that the food has been left exposed and out of the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours, keep it away from the kids. If you do want to serve leftovers, reheat thoroughly to kill of any of the 'bad' germs that may be lurking around. Do not let your kids overeat and remember to give them plenty of plain water through the day.
The doctor's most important tool for diagnosing the diarrhoea is the details you provide. Take note of the food your toddler eats. And if an episode does strike, do tell the doctor if there is something unusual you have observed about your child's stools such as how frequent or watery it is and the presence of blood or mucous. Keep tabs on how long your child has had the symptoms and whether it occurs more often after eating certain foods. The doctor may order a stool test to identify the cause of the purging, especially if the condition is severe.
The most common type of diarrhoea is viral and, for this condition, all it takes to get well is a few days of rest. Antidiarrhoeal medications are not usually recommended for infants and children with diarrhoea. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics if bacteria are the cause of the infection. If the diarrhoea is severe and your child is dehydrated, he / she may require hospitalisation to receive intravenous fluids and to be observed.
As part of the total management of diarrhoea in children, Abbott Nutrition carries Pedialyte® and Isomil® 2 Advance® Soy Protein Follow–on Formula.
Pedialyte® is an effective oral rehydration solution that may help prevent dehydration as it provides an optimal balance of water, salt and sugar. Pedialyte® replaces fluid and electrolytes, lost from your child's body, quickly and effectively. Pedialyte® does not stop diarrhoea but is recommended to prevent dehydration. Sports drinks and highly sweetened drinks aggravate the condition as they are concentrated solutions that tend to draw more water into the gut, increasing discomfort and causing more watery stools.
During an episode of diarrhoea and vomiting, common cow's milk may not be well tolerated and may aggravate the condition further This could result in further loss of fluid and compound the dehydration. This is particularly dangerous in children as it can lead to serious health complications. If your child's current cow's milk–based beverage is not well tolerated, you may want to temporarily replace it with a soy–based formula like Isomil® 2 Advance® Soy Protein Follow–on Formula.
So, if you are concerned about diarrhoea management in your children this festive season, stock up your First Aid Box with Pedialyte® and Isomil® 2 Advance® Soy Protein Follow–on Formula.
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