The child has diarrhea and high fever

The state of the stool in a child is a significant indicator of health. The digestive system in children is very labile and reacts to the slightest changes in the entire body. The nature of the stool can change for both physiological and pathological reasons, indicating both stress or inaccuracies in the diet, as well as serious illnesses. The situation is the same with the rise in temperature. And when a child has diarrhea and a high fever at the same time, it is very important to understand the reasons for the development of this condition. Since only after finding out what factors influenced the development of this condition, one can take certain measures.

Teething

This reason is significant for infants who begin to develop teeth. This begins to happen from the age of six months. The very first teeth, as well as canines and molars, are especially difficult for the body. As a reaction to this difficult process, the body can "give out" a rise in temperature to 37 ° C, sometimes up to 38 ° C, as well as loosening of the stool. However, in this case, the symptoms last no longer than 1-2 days, the nature of the stool does not change, the feces do not have pathological impurities. These manifestations are accompanied by reddening of the gums, from which a tooth appears, itching in this area, and anxiety of the baby.

To help the child, you can use creams and ointments that eliminate itching and inflammation of the gums.. It is not necessary to knock down the temperature if it does not rise above 37.5-37.7 ° C.

The body's response to stress

Despite the fact that young children do not understand and understand everything, it is very easy for them to get stressed. They experience psycho-emotional stress in the seemingly simplest situations:

• violation of sleep and wakefulness;
• communication with strangers;
• hospital visit;
• family quarrel;
• changes in the house (renovation, rearrangement, the appearance of new tenants), in relatives (new haircut or hair color for mom, lack of the usual beard for dad);
• loss of sight of an adult in a store or on the street, etc.

With this option, the temperature never rises above 37.5 ° C, and the episode of loose stools is one-time, feces without pathological impurities. Symptoms go away on their own and quickly.

Food allergies, intolerances

Allergic diseases are one of the most common causes of diarrhea in children. Given that the child's gastrointestinal tract is not fully formed, the enzymatic systems defective, the immune system also does not work the same as in an adult, the likelihood of developing food allergies much higher. It can become a reaction to the first complementary food, the introduction of a new product into the diet, or an excess of the usual dose of a particular food. The difference between intolerance and food allergy is that the former does not have an immune component (i.e. e. has nothing to do with the immune system), develops after the first intake of the reaction product (while the allergy develops at least with repeated intake), usually not manifests itself with symptoms other than digestive upset (whereas an allergic reaction can be accompanied by skin changes - itching, irritation, dryness and etc.).

Food allergies are treated, first of all, by excluding an allergenic product from the diet.

Table. Means for the treatment of food allergies.

Drug class	Description
Antihistamines	Eliminate the negative effects of histamine, the main biological substance of an allergic reaction - increased permeability of the walls of blood vessels, edema, itching. Apply both general action - tablets, syrups, and local, with changes in the skin - ointments, gels, creams.
Glucocorticosteroids	Strong anti-inflammatory drugs, remove puffiness, redness, help to reduce dry skin. Only local action (ointments, gels) and after consultation with a doctor.
Enterosorbents	Means that help to quickly remove the allergen from the body. You can use any of those that are allowed for children of the appropriate age.

Reactions to drugs, vaccines

Allergic reactions can be caused, of course, not only by food. The most severe allergens are drugs and vaccines.. This is not a reason not to use medications or refuse vaccinations! However, it is important to keep this property in mind and carry out the introduction of funds, especially immunizing agents, in a treatment room, where there are kits for allergy assistance.

An allergic reaction to a vaccine and a normal immune response are two different things. In the first case, such serious and life-threatening situations as angioedema Quincke or anaphylactic shock most often develop. These conditions appear immediately, at the time of drug administration. If already at home, a few hours after the injection, the temperature rose, the child became somewhat lethargic, perhaps diarrhea has appeared - this is an indicator that the immune system reacts, forms a response to the injected antigens. This is a good sign, albeit an unpleasant condition. It takes place the next day after the appearance, does not pose any danger. The stool may be liquid, but of a normal color and free of impurities. Temperature less than 37.8-38 ° C does not require reduction.

Acute respiratory infections

Acute respiratory or colds in children can often give rise to diarrhea and fever as the first manifestations. These are manifestations of the body's intoxication and its attempts to cope with it.

Other "habitual" symptoms are gradually added:

• a sore throat;
• redness of the pharynx;
• enlargement and redness of the tonsils;
• cough;
• runny nose;
• sneezing;
• lacrimation.

In this situation, the temperature does not decrease during the first days, but diarrhea usually goes away almost immediately, so it does not require correction. The temperature below 38 ° C, if it does not bring significant suffering to the child, does not need to be reduced either. It is important to recognize the onset of acute respiratory infections in time in order to quickly take action - fortified drinks, antiviral drugs (if more than 24-36 hours have not passed since the beginning of the infection and there was a possible contact with a sick person), ascorbic acid, bed mode.

Acute intestinal infections

Symptoms such as diarrhea and fever are the main manifestations of almost any intestinal infection. This is due to the fact that the pathogen enters the body, releases toxic substances that cause intoxication (rise in temperature). At the same time, the microbes that cause diseases of this class are tropic to the intestinal mucosa, which determines this localization.

Bacterial infections

There are a huge number of bacterial intestinal infections, it is worth highlighting only the most common:

• salmonellosis;
• shigellosis (dysentery);
• escherichiosis;
• toxic infections.

Salmonellosis cause enterobacteriaceae of the genus Salmonella. The source of infection is livestock, poultry. There is a high probability of contracting this infection through a raw chicken egg or meat from this bird. The disease is transmitted by the fecal-oral mechanism, i.e. with ingestion through the mouth. To a greater extent, children under one year old are exposed to the disease. Most often, outbreaks occur in the summer when food storage rules are violated.

There are several clinical variants of the course of the infection, but the most common is the gastroenteric variant. With it, the symptoms of intoxication are primary (in addition to temperature, chills, headache and weakness, muscle pain appear). A little later, stool disorders, nausea and vomiting join. The hallmark of this disease is the nature of the feces. In medicine, it is called "swamp-ooze" stool because of its greenish tint and unpleasant odor. The disease is usually treated in an infectious diseases hospital using antibiotics and detoxification therapy.

Dysentery (or the name for the causative agent - shigellosis) is a disease caused by organisms of the genus Shigella. The only possible source of infection is a person and this makes it necessary to regularly examine those people who are directly related to the preparation or delivery of food. The transmission mechanism is fecal-oral. The clinic begins with minor intoxication, and sometimes without it. Paroxysmal pain appears in the lower abdomen, followed by a loose bowel movement. Moreover, initially it is feces of a normal color, and then the content of water and mucus in it increases, and after a while the stool takes the form of "rectal spitting" - the release of only mucus and blood. False urge to defecate is characteristic.

Foodborne toxicoinfections Is a whole group of diseases caused by different microbes, but characterized by common symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment. The discharge is characterized by an excessively light color, an unpleasant odor.

Viral infections

In addition to bacteria, a virus can also cause an acute intestinal infection. However, it should be noted that these are usually less serious diseases. This does not mean that you do not need to pay attention to them, but their course is favorable and often does not even require therapy.

Hepatitis A Is a viral disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, transmitted exclusively by the fecal-oral mechanism (unlike other hepatitis) and reversibly affects the liver. The virus usually spreads by water (because it is very stable in the external environment), although it can be present in food and household items. The disease has several variants of its course, incl. hidden when symptoms do not appear at all. The icteric form is characterized by symptoms of intoxication, the appearance of jaundice (first the sclera turn yellow, then the skin and mucous membranes), dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, sour belching, bitterness in the mouth), loosening of the stool (usually it is of a normal color or slightly lightened), as well as a feeling of heaviness and pain in the right hypochondrium.

Very often, the disease goes away on its own and does not require any treatment. In moderate or severe cases, detoxification, drinking plenty of fluids, enterosorbents are used. A gentle diet is recommended for 14 days after illness.

Enterovirus infections - this is the same group of lesions of the digestive tract, like toxic infections, only caused by various viruses. Many different symptoms can develop, but diarrhea and fever are most common with enteroviral diarrhea. The risk group is babies under the age of two. The pathogen is excreted in the faeces of an infected person, enters food and water, and is swallowed by a “new”, healthy person. Possible variant of "dirty hands" infection. The temperature rises sharply, in a few hours, up to 38.5-39.5 ° C. At the same time, diarrhea develops, but no pathological changes in the nature of the stool or impurities are observed.

Rotaviruses - This is the most common type of causative agent of viral intestinal infections. It is very easy to "catch" rotavirus in public transport, kindergarten, school, shop. Since the transmission is also carried out by the fecal-oral mechanism, water, food can be contaminated, and household items can be contaminated.

The symptoms of this group of infections are pronounced, but the disease is not severe (in most cases) and often does not require specific therapy. The disease manifests itself:

• vomiting (from 1 to 5-7 times a day);
• an increase in temperature to 38-38.5 ° C;
• severe weakness, sometimes light-headedness;
• diarrhea (stools of normal color without pathological impurities);
• pain in the abdomen.

Treatment is limited to abundant drinking (unsweetened water, mineral water, fruit drinks, tea), bed rest, rest and sleep. Enterosorbents can be used.

Other causes of diarrhea and fever

Other diseases that can cause these symptoms are:

• protozoses (infections caused by protozoa): giardiasis, amebiasis;
• helminthiases (parasitic infestations);
• inflammatory bowel disease;
• enzymatic insufficiency: malabsorption syndrome, maldigestion syndrome, celiac disease, hypolactasia.

Thus, diarrhea and diarrhea in a child can be caused by a variety of reasons. It is very important to pay attention to the general well-being of the baby, the presence of pathological impurities in the feces (especially blood), the number of bowel movements per day. It is important to remember that dehydration develops very quickly in young children, therefore it is necessary to provide the child with plenty of drink and do not hesitate to see a doctor.

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