Sinusitis

How does intestinal flu begin in children? Intestinal flu in children

Therapists call this disease gastroenteritis, pediatricians call it rotavirus infection. But, at its core, rotavirus infection is not the flu. What are the symptoms and treatment of intestinal flu in young children?

How is intestinal flu transmitted in a small child?

The causative agents of gastroenteritis are rotavirus and noroviruses, astroviruses, caliciviruses, and adenoviruses. Their active reproduction leads to inflammation gastrointestinal tract, because of what this type flu is also called stomach flu.

The Latin word "rota" means "wheel", that is, the name of the disease arose because viruses have a two-layer shell, which gives them the appearance of a wheel.

According to statistics, in 25% of cases, intestinal flu in children under one year of age is caused by rotavirus. At the age of one to three - in 60%, from 4 to 6 years - in 40% of children.

Rotavirus infection can be contracted through airborne droplets and food. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful when contacting other (even healthy-looking) people, since the incubation period of the disease is 5 days. After recovery, a person remains a carrier of germs for several days and is potentially dangerous in terms of infection. This is why it is so important to take care of a child’s hygiene if there are people with gastroenteritis in his environment.

The main requirement is frequent washing hands with soap, minimizing contact with a sick person. Rotavirus infection is especially dangerous for children preschool age and older people.

How does intestinal flu occur in children: symptoms and signs

When rotavirus enters the body, it can be detected in the cells of the small intestine within an hour. It attacks and disrupts the structure of the organ's mucosa. Gradually, this leads to disruption of the synthesis of digestive enzymes responsible for the breakdown complex carbohydrates. So over time small intestine Unbroken carbohydrates accumulate. They attract excess liquid, cause watery diarrhea and dehydration of the entire body. And this main danger intestinal flu.

When parents suspect that their child is infected with rotavirus, it is necessary to call a pediatrician at home. There is no need to take a sick baby to the doctor, as he is contagious. Typically, vomiting with intestinal flu in children occurs up to 5 times. As for stool, diarrhea can bother the sick person 10 times a day. In this case, outpatient (home) treatment is possible.

The incubation period of the disease lasts 5 days. Signs of the disease appear rapidly and actively.

Usually the child appears slight cough, sore throat, runny nose, that is, symptoms characteristic of the common flu. This occurs several hours before the appearance of dyspeptic manifestations (associated with disruption of the digestive tract). It is catarrhal phenomena (occurring on the mucous membranes) that distinguish intestinal flu from ordinary digestive disorders.

Main initial signs stomach flu - sore throat, redness, sneezing, cough, runny nose, which quickly disappear. Next, the patient develops loose stool. It can be from 5 to 10 times a day. At the same time, the color of the stool is gray-yellow, the stools are clay-like and abundant. They have pungent odor, but there are no impurities of blood and mucus in them. The baby is worried about rumbling, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, low-grade fever or high temperature. He becomes weak, drowsy, apathetic. When rotavirus infection is severe, the baby becomes dehydrated.

Parents must understand that they themselves cannot accurately determine whether their child has an intestinal virus or salmonellosis, food poisoning. Only an experienced pediatrician can differentiate these diseases. Without his help in this case can't get by.

How to treat intestinal flu in a child

Therapy must be comprehensive. It is based on following a diet, replenishing fluid deficiency and taking medicines as prescribed by the pediatrician.

Nutrition

The diet of a child with rotavirus infection should be strictly limited. It is necessary to exclude fermented milk and dairy products from the menu - they contribute to the proliferation and activation of viruses in the intestines.

It is also necessary to exclude all juices, fruits, and other carbohydrate-rich foods. This is necessary to prevent fermentation in the intestines and attacks of diarrhea.

With intestinal flu infant his daily food portions must be reduced by almost 2 times. Such curative measure necessary to prevent intestinal blockage. It is necessary to feed the patient in small portions; you cannot immediately give liquid after eating - this contributes to vomiting.

In the first 4-5 days, the child should not be given meat. Even dietary intake during such a period will be too heavy for the body. Later, you need to start gradually introducing poultry and boiled meat into the menu. lean fish. Protein is very important for a growing body as building material. Even after recovery, it is forbidden to introduce corned beef and smoked meats into the menu for another week. Rotavirus infection has negative impact on the liver and kidneys, so they need to be protected.

Dietary restrictions can undoubtedly lead to strong weight loss. But during the recovery period, children’s appetite returns and they gain back the lost kilograms. There is no need to worry about this.

How to treat intestinal flu in a child: drugs

Doesn't exist today specific treatment rotavirus infection. The main therapy is aimed at reducing intoxication, as well as normalizing water-salt metabolism. That is, treatment of intestinal flu in children is symptomatic. Its goal is to reduce negative action virus on the body.

The main thing is to avoid dehydration, which is why rehydration therapy is necessary. And for this purpose Regidron is most often used. One sachet of medicine is dissolved in a liter of boiled water. His sick child should drink during the day. Let him drink in small portions. Any mother can prepare a similar solution on her own by mixing 700 ml of boiled water, 300 ml of dried apricot decoction, 4 teaspoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. You should drink the liquid in small sips.

The pediatrician can also prescribe sorbents. This is Smecta, Enterosgel, activated carbon, Polysorb.

If rotavirus infection in a child goes away with an increase in temperature and severe diarrhea, then Furazolidone, Enterol, Enterofuril are prescribed.

You should take medications with digestive enzymes. These are Pancreatin, Creon, Mezim forte, Ftalazol.

After acute phase the illness subsides, it is necessary to restore the microflora of the children's intestines. For this purpose, Bifiform, Linex, RioFlora-Balance, Hilak Forte, Bifidumbacterin are prescribed.

Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of rotavirus.

Folk remedies

The best option for replenishing fluid deficiency in a baby’s body is a carrot drink. You need to prepare 500 grams of carrots - wash, peel, chop. The resulting slurry must be boiled for half an hour in a liter of salted water. The broth needs to be cooled, strained and refrigerated. You can store it for 24 hours and give it to a sick baby to drink. Carrots can be offered to children after one year. If a baby under 6 months is sick, then he needs to be given a chamomile decoction.

To combat gastroenteritis in children after three years of age, you can use honey. It works great on digestive system. Several times a day you need to give your baby ½ teaspoon of honey.

Suitable for treatment and such herbal tea: chamomile flowers, dried cumin fruits, blueberries and strawberries in equal quantities - mix. One teaspoon of this mixture should be brewed with a glass of boiling water, cover with a lid for 15 minutes, and then strain. You need to drink the infusion one tablespoon at a time, often. The product is given to the child without added sugar. Children older than one year can be treated with it until they are fully recovered.

Intestinal flu in children: Komarovsky

The famous pediatrician emphasizes two aspects of treatment.

The first is the inadmissibility of using antibiotics in the fight against intestinal flu. This category of medicines does not affect viruses! Therefore, there is no need to try to use them.

The second point is the importance of feeding a sick child, because the main danger of childhood intestinal flu is dehydration. Dr. Komarovsky considers active resistance to dehydration to be the basis of treatment. He recommends that parents give sick children fluids every 30 minutes. Even if the baby’s diarrhea gradually stops on the second day of illness, he still needs to be actively fed. But there is no need to force feed, the pediatrician is sure. The child will be able to regain the lost weight after full recovery.

Especially for - Diana Rudenko

Stomach flu – inflammatory disease infectious etiology, which occurs in the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.

The disease is contagious and is often confused with ordinary stomach poisoning. In most cases, the infection goes away on its own within a few days.

By taking extra precautions and practicing good personal hygiene, you can prevent the spread of the disease.

Intestinal flu is one of the most common diseases in children.

Research has shown that most children younger age encounter this disease at least once.

Some of the most characteristic causes infection of a child:

The infection entered the body through contaminated food or water.
The child ate from contaminated dishes.
Contact with contaminated feces - if, without parental supervision, a child accidentally touches it and then puts his hand in his mouth.
Bacterial infections: Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus, Giardia, Campylobacter or E.Coli.
Giardiasis.
Infection through viruses, including adenovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus and calicivirus.
The disease can be caused by certain toxins present in plants and seafood.
Using powerful laxatives to treat constipation.
Consumption of toxic heavy metals that enter the body with food.

Intestinal flu - symptoms in children

Depending on the form of the disease and the type of virus, the child may exhibit one symptom or several at once:

Vomiting/nausea;
Fever;
Abdominal pain;
Body pain;
Severe chills;
Diarrhea.

These stomach flu symptoms in children can be moderate to severe.

They usually last from several hours to several days, sometimes a week or two, depending on the severity of the condition.

When should you call an ambulance immediately?

The most big problem during illness – stomach upset in children, nausea and vomiting. They can lead to dehydration (dehydration) of the child's body, which should be avoided at all costs.

Even if you think that this phenomenon is not considered serious, pay attention to following signs, then immediately call a doctor.

If a child aged 0-12 months has intestinal symptoms that persist for more than 2 days.
The baby is 2-3 years old and the symptoms do not go away within 3-4 days.
In a child severe nausea and vomiting. Sometimes this condition requires hospitalization.
The baby does not drink water and does not urinate during the day.
After defecation and in the vomit there are blood impurities.
High temperature does not go away after 2 days.
Dry and cracked lips appeared.
Excessive sleepiness.
Moodiness.
Sunken eyes.
Colic.
Dizziness.
Pale and cold extremities.

What can and cannot be given to a child with intestinal flu?

While the child is experiencing discomfort, pain, fever and other symptoms of illness, several techniques can be used.

They will help alleviate the baby’s condition with intestinal flu.

Try giving your child water in small portions at regular intervals.
Do not give milk or dairy products to a sick child.
Don't give him drinks high content acids.
You should not give your child foods that are heavy on the stomach. Lightweight recommended vegetable soups, soft porridges (not with milk).
It is not recommended to give your child medications without the approval of the pediatrician. Sometimes the disease goes away on its own.
Some of the liquids, such as soft drinks, sports drinks, apple juice, tea, or chicken broth contain the wrong amount of salt, sugar and water, which can worsen the condition of the body.
You should avoid feeding your baby any fruit juices or foods high in sugar, as these tend to make the flu worse.
The child should remain in bed for twenty-four hours until the diarrhea and vomiting stop. If a child has a fever, the temperature should be checked and noted in a log every four hours.

If symptoms persist after therapy, call your doctor again. After 1-2 days, the first results of therapeutic recovery will be noticeable. If one of the signs of the disease does not go away, you may need to be hospitalized with medication.

Intestinal flu - treatment in children

If stomach flu in children is not treated promptly, it can lead to the spread of infection, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in the body.

In case bacterial infection, the doctor may prescribe special antibiotics, which are directed against bacteria of this type.
For viral infections, your doctor may recommend an antiviral drug.
For high fever and body aches, your doctor may recommend a dose of baby ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
In order to make sure that the child receives enough water, rehydration solutions are prescribed, which should be given to the child regularly. This will help restore the salt and mineral balance of the body.
If the diarrhea is mild and there is no vomiting, the doctor will advise you to continue feeding the baby breast milk or milk formulas.
The oxygen level in the baby's blood is checked using a pulse oximeter.
If there is significant fluid loss, the child will be taken to the hospital where he will be given solutions such as glucose through an IV to keep the body nourished.

Prevention of intestinal flu infection

Make sure your child follows good personal hygiene and washes his hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap or after each visit to the toilet and outside. Parents themselves should wash their hands after going outside, working, or going to the toilet.
Sterilize your child's utensils properly before use - bottles, plates and spoons. Maintain safe food preparation practices. Choose clean dishes fresh vegetables and fruits, veterinary-tested meat and fish.
It is recommended to vaccinate the child against infection. Typically three doses of immunization are given: when the baby is 2 months old, when he is 4 months old, and when he is 6 months old.

If the child is in the hospital, there are a number of preventive measures, helping to communicate correctly with a sick child to avoid infection.

The child may be placed in a separate room and will not be able to visit the playroom until he feels better. Ask the medical staff to bring the baby toys and give him the necessary things.
Wash your hands often before and after touching the baby, and before leaving the baby's room. Hospital staff are also required to wash their hands on a schedule.
If a child has stomach flu symptoms and is in the hospital, all staff should wear gloves and a gown when caring for the child.

Video - Intestinal flu: symptoms and treatment in children (Dr. Komarovsky)

So, when intestinal flu occurs in children, it is necessary to pay attention to dehydration of the child’s body, which occurs due to nausea and vomiting that accompany this disease.

Intestinal flu is a common disease among children different ages. Actually, this disease is called rotavirus infection or gastroenteritis, which clearly indicates the minimal similarity of intestinal flu with influenza itself. According to statistics for 2017, intestinal infections claim about 4,000 children’s lives every year. Therefore, symptoms and treatment of intestinal flu in children - important information for any parent, since the likelihood of the child suffering from this infectious pathology is quite high. Statistics indicate that almost all children under 5 years of age experience intestinal flu. In this case, both a child under one year old and a child 3 years old can become infected.

The disease itself is provoked active work in the intestines of viruses from the Reoviridae family, where they enter through the fecal-oral route, and there is also a chance of infection by airborne droplets. Perhaps this is the similarity between rotavirus infection and influenza, since both diseases are provoked by viruses, but rotaviruses and influenza viruses are completely different. Rotaviruses replicate by infecting a number of villous epithelial cells, causing local inflammatory process and subsequent cell death. The result is structural changes and disruption of intestinal function.

Intestinal flu is characterized by several stages of development:

Symptoms of intestinal flu appear very aggressively at the onset of the disease and often the clinical picture is respiratory symptoms and symptoms of gastrointestinal dysfunction. Symptoms may include:

Initially, intestinal flu manifests itself as a common acute respiratory infection. There are symptoms such as discomfort in the throat, especially when swallowing. Mild rhinitis and sneezing may also be observed;
Weakness, there is a decrease in the child’s activity;
Body temperature rises sharply and can reach 39 degrees. At the same time, the temperature is stable and remains throughout the entire acute period, decreasing towards the end of this stage;
Vomiting, appearance of vomit;
Pain syndrome in the abdominal area;
Headache noted often;
Diarrhea. This symptom is perhaps the most characteristic of rotavirus infection. Bowel movements occur up to 10 times a day, feces have a specific color (the 2-3rd day of illness is accompanied by a gray-yellow color and has a clay-like shape). At a certain stage, the feces are light in color and the urine is a rich dark yellow color. May be observed in stool blood clots. When you defecate more than 10 times a day, the feces resemble foam and consist practically of liquid;
There is a decrease in appetite in the child. May be expressed in complete/partial refusal to eat;

Separately, it is worth mentioning the dehydration of the body of children with this infection. With intestinal flu, it is very important to drink plenty of fluids, since exicosis becomes the main cause of death in rotavirus infection.

It should be understood that treatment of this infectious disease can be carried out both at home and in a hospital ward. Hospitalization of young patients with rotavirus infection is not uncommon. Indications for hospitalization are following symptoms:

However, treatment for this disease is aimed at reducing the intensity of symptoms and speeding up the body's recovery. In fact, today, specific medications There is simply no targeted action against rotaviruses (and many other viruses, among others).

Therefore, treatment of rotavirus infection in children comes down to the following:

It is necessary to provide the child with peace to reduce the burden on the body weakened by the disease. If the child is still very young, it is necessary to seriously approach the issue of controlling the urge to vomit, since the baby may simply choke on vomit;
IN mandatory It is recommended to increase your fluid intake. The word “liquid” should be understood as various compotes from berries, fruits and dried fruits, weak tea, jelly, water, natural juices (not store-bought, but made from fruits and vegetables);

Digestive disorders in children are not that uncommon. However, such a phenomenon as intestinal flu in children should under no circumstances be ignored. This can lead to a number of complications, which can only be dealt with timely treatment. The causes, symptoms and other features of intestinal flu will be discussed below.

IN childhood The disease is characterized by an acute onset. After a short incubation period(no more than two to three days) the temperature increases, symptoms of febrile syndrome arise, vomiting and diarrhea begin. Bloody streaks may appear in the stool, such as acute period stomach flu in a child usually lasts about seven days.
Subsequently clinical picture supplemented:

Painful sensations in the stomach. A child with intestinal flu usually experiences cramping pain in the abdominal area. Most often they have varying degrees intensity.

Runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. A pattern has been observed in which intestinal flu forms immediately before an outbreak regular form of this disease. In this case, the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract problem will be supplemented by signs of infection.

Loss of appetite and weakness. For seven or more days of illness human body, especially for children, can be seriously depleted. At the same time, facial features become sharper, and blood pressure may decrease.

No less often, intestinal flu in childhood is associated with mild degree anemia. Speaking about this, experts pay attention to reduced level hemoglobin in the blood, slight dizziness and pallor skin. In order to cope with the disease much faster, it is important to determine not only the causes, but also the main routes of infection.

Causes and ways of infecting a child with stomach flu

The method of infection with intestinal flu is most often fecal-oral, which is facilitated by dirty hands and unwashed food.

Also note the dependence on time when. As noted earlier, in childhood, intestinal flu most often occurs in winter, when the child’s body and immunity are aggravated.

Once in a child’s body, the virus, which boasts a strong protein shell, easily passes through the stomach and even takes hold in the area. small intestine. As a result, this provokes a severe disruption of fermentation, as well as the absorption abilities of the intestine. Considering more than unpleasant symptoms and the likelihood of aggravation of the child’s condition, it is recommended to start therapy for intestinal flu as early as possible.

Treatment of intestinal flu in children

For successful therapy in this case, it is important to restore the water-salt balance. The most common drug used in this case is Regidron. Please note that:

if it is absent or unavailable at home, it will be possible to prepare a solution containing one tsp. salt and a liter of boiled water;

every 60 minutes it is necessary to consume 50 ml of such a solution, for the remaining time it is strongly recommended to use ordinary, but boiled water;

You should not drink a significant amount of water at once, because in the vast majority of cases this is associated with the development of vomiting reactions.

Next, it is imperative to ensure the neutralization of the heat, which is necessary when the temperature reaches 38 degrees. At the same time, the choice of a specific dosage form not so simple. It depends largely on which symptoms predominate: vomiting or diarrhea.

In the first case, the optimal remedy will be rectal suppositories, in the second - syrup or tablet form. If it is known in advance that the child has a very poor and difficult tolerance to fat, in no case should you wait for the temperature to increase - the medicine can be taken immediately after the onset of intestinal flu. It is also necessary to remember that:

if the medicine does not have time to be absorbed due to vomiting or diarrhea, measures such as wiping with water at a comfortable temperature using vinegar will be effective;

restoration of intestinal microflora is ensured;

For this purpose, drugs such as Linex, Bifiform and others are used, because they contain beneficial bifidobacteria.

As part of the basic recovery course for a child with intestinal flu, special attention is paid to diet. Yes, on initial stage the best and healthy food there will be either low-fat chicken broth or rice cooked in water.

Various juices, as well as milk, any fatty or simply heavy food are 100% prohibited. Then, on about the third day, you can eat porridge with water, cottage cheese and lean meat. When talking about nutrition as part of treatment, pay attention to other features:

For a child under one year of age, the main food for the duration of the illness should be fermented milk mixtures. To improve taste and increase nutritional value, they are diluted either rice water, or water.

It is strongly recommended to gradually switch to your baby’s regular diet. It is best to do this only after everyone has disappeared clinical manifestations indicating indigestion.

Regardless of the age category of the child, the diet for intestinal flu involves fairly frequent feeding in minimal portions. Failure to comply with the presented rule is fraught with complications. The fact is that this leads to additional stress on the digestive system, and relapses of vomiting or diarrhea cannot be ruled out.

The final requirement in terms of treatment and diet should be the limitation of carbohydrates, especially sweets. If we talk about the baby’s diet after suffering from intestinal flu, then it assumes the usual caloric content of dishes and, at the same time, ease in terms of digestion of food. Fried, smoked and spicy foods are unacceptable for consumption. Also, in no case should you eat food that large quantities Contains seasonings or store-bought sauces.

How to give first aid

Considering acute symptoms intestinal flu and features child's body, parents should know everything about how to provide first aid. First of all, the child will need to be provided with warm and, if possible, fortified drinks. It's about about compotes, teas or just boiled water. Equally important will be:

Vaccination is provided as a specialized prevention against intestinal flu in childhood. However, there are also non-specific measures, which, first of all, consist of strict adherence to basic personal hygiene standards. It is strongly recommended to use exclusively purified or treated water, which is most important at a time when outbreaks of respiratory viral infections are recorded.

Parents should also teach their child to wash their hands after visiting public places, consume exclusively clean, thoroughly washed vegetables and fruits. While swimming in bodies of water or public swimming pools It is strongly recommended to avoid swallowing water.

Fortification and strengthening of the body in childhood are also extremely important. We are talking about the use of vitamins and mineral complexes, eating exclusively healthy and fresh food. It is no less important to teach your child to moderate physical activity and, if this is perceived normally by the baby, to hardening. In that case strong body, even if faced with intestinal flu, will survive it with minimal losses.

Often, a patient has to hear from a doctor a diagnosis such as intestinal flu. Many are skeptical about the verdict, because the flu is essentially an infectious disease respiratory tract. If you are faced with this pathology, then you need to start treating it as soon as possible. Intestinal flu is especially severe in children. You should not self-medicate. Take your child to the doctor and find out what the symptoms and treatment of intestinal flu in children are.

Intestinal flu is severe in children

Acute infectious disease affecting the digestive tract is called intestinal flu. But not all gastrointestinal infections can be called this term. It can be quite difficult to figure out on your own what exactly you are faced with. In medicine, this pathology may be called gastroenteritis or rotavirus infection. This doesn't change the essence.

The disease most often occurs in children of school and kindergarten age. It can also appear in infants, which can be very dangerous. Old people and people with weakened immune systems are at risk of infection. In a healthy adult, the symptoms of the disease may be so small that the patient does not notice the deterioration of the condition. After suffering a pathology, immunity is developed.

Infection and incubation period

Stomach flu in children can be transmitted in several ways. This pathology is also called disease dirty hands, which speaks for itself. You can pick up an infection through poor-quality food or by getting pathogens from your palms into your mouth. Viruses infect humans through the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Infection can also occur through the airborne droplet method, which is standard for ARVI. The viral infection is transmitted through household items: dishes, towels.

The infection can be transmitted through towels and household items

The incubation period varies widely. Signs of intestinal flu in children may appear as early as 16 hours after the viral infection enters the body. If the patient’s immunity is stronger, then the pathology appears after a few days (up to 5 days).

Symptoms of the disease

For what reasons is the disease called “intestinal flu”?? The first symptoms to appear in children will be: cough, pain, sore throat, runny nose. All this is very similar to the classic course of infection. That is why the pathology was called the flu. In the future they will join additional signs diseases that indicate an intestinal infection.

Secondary manifestations

If progresses stomach flu, the symptoms in children appear as follows:

Catarrhal phenomena(runny nose, cough, sore throat). As you already know, they disappear literally the next day without any treatment.

Increased body temperature. In young children who have not previously experienced infectious diseases digestive tract fever is quite pronounced. Body temperature reaches 39 degrees. For stronger children, the thermometer readings stop at 37.5-38 degrees.

Loose stool. The urge to defecate is present during the day as well as at night, which is especially exhausting for a depleted body. Stool from 5 times a day with pieces of undigested food.

Abdominal pain. The children complain of boiling, bloating, and discomfort. There is a tendency to flatulence.

Nausea, vomiting. These signs may be absent. Vomiting occurs more often when consuming large amounts of food or drink, and can occur from one to several times a day.

Weakness, tearfulness. If intestinal flu occurs in an infant, the child becomes very restless and cries all the time. The baby still cannot talk about what hurts him.

A child with stomach flu may have a stomach ache

If you notice the described manifestations in a child (single or all at once), then you should see a pediatrician or infectious disease specialist as soon as possible. Remember: the younger the patient, the more dangerous this disease is for him.

Danger for small children

Intestinal flu in children under one year of age occurs in particularly acute form . Frequent vomiting with severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration within a few hours. This requires the right tactics. fast treatment. Dehydration in children is manifested by the following symptoms:

crying without tears;

dry lips or mucous membranes, dry palms;

apathy, drowsiness;

no urination or very concentrated urine;

bruises under the eyes;

weight loss.

If you see such manifestations, then throw away all principles and urgently call an ambulance. Inaction can have disastrous consequences, including fatal outcome. If vomiting occurs more than 5 times a day, and stool more than 10 times, then the little patient is urgently hospitalized.

This infection is very dangerous for young children.

To treat or not to treat?

If intestinal flu appears in children, the symptoms and treatment should be determined and, accordingly, prescribed by a doctor. Many parents believe that there is nothing wrong with what is happening. They prefer to hope for a lucky break and trust that everything will go away on its own. This opinion is a big misconception. It is imperative to treat intestinal flu that appears in children. For this purpose, the most modern and safe medicines are selected.

How to treat stomach flu in children? There is no specific therapy for this disease. In most cases, they are prescribed symptomatic drugs, which restore salt and water balance, prevent further dehydration, reduce body temperature, and also normalize well-being. When prescribing such medications, the doctor must take into account the patient’s age and pay attention to the clinical picture.

What can you do yourself?

If stomach flu starts in children, treatment involves a certain diet. All dairy products should be excluded from the patient’s diet. fermented milk products. Such food creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms. Don't give it to your child bakery products, sweets or chocolate. Carbonated drinks are strictly prohibited.

If the baby doesn’t want to eat, don’t force it. You can abstain from food for several days. During this period, all the body’s forces are aimed at fighting the infection. But drinking plenty of fluids is recommended for the child. Let's clean water, herbal infusions or strong unsweetened tea.

A sick child can eat rice porridge cooked in water.

If your baby asks to eat, then prefer to feed him rice porridge cooked in water. It is acceptable to eat a boiled egg or banana. Crackers and a slice of low-fat cheese are allowed. Jelly-like soups and low-fat broths will help improve your well-being.

Use of medications in outpatient settings

Intestinal flu in children is most often treated on an outpatient basis. Children in severe and moderate condition are hospitalized. If the little patient feels well, then get a doctor’s prescription, and then go home to bed rest.

Any medications should be given strictly according to the instructions or following the doctor’s individual recommendations.

Antiviral agents

Treatment and prevention of intestinal flu in children may include taking safe antiviral agents. Most often, children are prescribed medications based on interferon or interferon inducers.

"Ergoferon" are lozenges that can fight infection and enhance innate immunity. The drug copes with viruses that infect the upper and lower sections respiratory tract and digestive tract. Can be used in children from six months.

"Kipferon" is an effective immunomodulatory and antiviral drug in the form of suppositories. Just one candle a day will help you recover from illness faster. The drug is used from the first days of life. It contains a complex immunomodulatory component and recombinant interferon.

Kipferon is an effective immunomodulatory and antiviral drug

Antiemetic compounds and antidiarrheals

If your child has reached the age of six, he can be given antidiarrheal agent based on loperamide: “Loperamide” or “Imodium”. Please note the contraindications: the drugs are not used for acute colitis and intestinal obstruction.

At severe vomiting products such as Cerucal or Motilium are suitable. The latter in the form of a suspension can be used in children from the first days of life. If you see blood in the vomit, do not give the little patient anything, but immediately call an ambulance.

Enterosorbents

How to treat stomach flu in a child? Alleviate the baby's condition short terms Detoxification and cleansing products will help you. Enterosorbents are presented on pharmaceutical market in a large assortment. You can choose whatever you like. Such drugs cannot harm the body unless the pathology is complicated by intra-abdominal bleeding. The most popular and potent medicine is Polysorb. Some kids refuse to take it because bad taste. You can alternatively choose sweet Enterosgel or Smecta. Please note that enterosorbents must be taken separately from other medications. The break between compositions should be at least 1-3 hours.

Antibiotics: pros and cons

Many parents mistakenly believe that using antibiotics will alleviate the child's condition. In fact, this is a misconception. Antibacterial agents prescribed only for complications. But you can use intestinal antiseptics, which have antimicrobial effect, work only in digestive tract. Trade names such drugs: “Stopdiar”, “Ersefuril”, “Enterofuril”. Furazolidone is prescribed less frequently. It is advisable to give the drug in the form of a suspension to children under three years of age.

Antibiotics don't always help

In the event that intestinal flu is complicated bacterial diseases, antibiotics are prescribed wide range actions, for example, penicillins or macrolides. Be prepared for the fact that their use may provoke another diarrhea.

Additional funds

Depending on the symptoms of stomach flu, treatment in children should be appropriate. High body temperature allows the body to independently eliminate viral infection, so it is not advisable to take antipyretics before the thermometer reaches 38.5 degrees. The exception is children with congenital pathologies nervous system, as well as babies prone to seizures. The most popular safe medicines to reduce temperature - Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Paracetamol, Panadol. For intractable vomiting, rectal suppositories or injection solutions can be used.

During intestinal infection rehydration therapy is necessary. For this you can use the drug "Regidron". Dilute one sachet in a liter of warm water, give the child one sip every 5 minutes. Please note that the closer the solution temperature is to body temperature, the faster the saline solution will be absorbed.

Let's sum it up

Intestinal flu in children usually occurs in outbreaks. All the children around one infected person get sick. An adult with strong immunity can be a carrier of infection, but not get sick himself. Intestinal influenza viruses die at temperatures above 60 degrees. To prevent infection, treat dishes hot water, disinfect with chlorine-containing solutions.

To prevent infection, treat dishes with hot water and disinfect with chlorine-containing solutions.

The disease in mild and moderate form lasts from 5 to 12 days, ends full recovery. Correct therapy and timely treatment will help shorten this gap. A child becomes contagious from the first hours of penetration of the pathogen into the body. For the entire period of illness, the little patient must be isolated from contact with other children: he should not attend school and kindergarten. At the end of the illness, doctors prescribe the child a course of probiotics and prebiotics.