A bout of diarrhea can be uncomfortable for your child and unnerving for you as you wonder what is causing it. KidsHealth notes that pediatric diarrhea is fairly common and most children will suffer from it occasionally. Diarrhea is characterized by loose and runny stools and can be caused by a variety of different things. Call your child's pediatrician if your child develops diarrhea, but in the meantime zinc and probiotics show promise in treating your child's symptoms and helping to relieve his discomfort. Offer them to your child under the supervision of his pediatrician.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
Diarrhea often starts with cramping in the abdominal area that signals that your child needs to use the restroom. If your child's diarrhea is due to a viral infection, he may experience a fever and vomiting before the diarrhea begins. Depending on the cause of your child's diarrhea, he may also experience a fever, loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss and dehydration.
Causes of Diarrhea
Viral infections can cause diarrhea, but it is more often a bacterial or parasitic infection that leads to pediatric diarrhea. KidsHealth reports that E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the most common bacteria and parasites to afflict children. These can be spread through contaminated food or water but may also be contracted from swimming pools and petting zoos. Other causes for diarrhea, particularly if it is long-lasting, include food allergies, lactose intolerance or gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
Zinc to Treat Diarrhea
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reports that zinc supplements can help treat pediatric diarrhea, as well as reduce the duration of the symptoms. Zinc supplements offered to children along with traditional diarrhea treatments, such as oral rehydration, showed the most potential in treating and eliminating diarrhea in young children. If your child has diarrhea, speak with his doctor about the possible use of a zinc supplement to help get rid of it more quickly and help reduce his discomfort.
Probiotics to Treat Diarrhea
If your child's diarrhea is due to a bacterial or parasitic infection, he will most likely be prescribed a course of antibiotics to rid his body of these invaders. Antibiotics also destroy the beneficial bacteria in your child's gut, which may put him at risk for other illnesses. Probiotics can help replenish the beneficial bacteria. Creator of the "What to Expect" parent advice books, Heidi Murkoff, notes that probiotics can reduce antibiotic-related diarrhea in children by 75 percent. If your child has diarrhea, offer him yogurt, which is a kid-friendly food that supplies a good dose of this beneficial bacteria.
