Diarrhea in a child without fever: reasons, how to treat

Loose stools are a common symptom of young parents. Without temperature, it does not attract attention and creates a false sense of calmness. Harmful dysfunction can hide a life-threatening infection. Vomiting is the second symptom that signals digestion failure. May occur without diarrhea, but more often occurs together.

Features of the device of the body of a newborn

The body of a 3 month old baby is very different from that of a 2 year old baby. Most organ systems are formed or learn to interact with the outside world. Frequent stools in an infant (6-10 times a day) is a consequence of the lack of control of the central nervous system over the anal sphincter. Up to 2-3 years, work is regulated by reflexes.

A mushy stool is normal for this age. Discharge with a large amount of water should alert, even if there is no temperature.

Among children of all age groups, babies have the highest chance of suffering from diarrhea. The danger is the consequence of dehydration. Determined by the following criteria:

• Decreased amount of urine and darkening;
• Dry mucous membranes: nose, mouth, eyes;
• The skin above the “fontanelle” descends into the skull by 3-5 millimeters;
• Lack of tears when crying;
• A sluggish state.

In children who are 1 year old or less, with discomfort, diarrhea and vomiting are clearly manifested without other symptoms. Any infectious disease develops within a few hours. You need to remember this and, at the slightest manifestation, call the local pediatrician or go to the hospital yourself.

Causes of diarrhea and vomiting in a child under one year old

Common reasons include:

• Breaking the diet by mom. Eating food that is heavy to digest (fatty or fried) will make the milk fatter than usual and the baby will not be able to digest it.
• Change of feed mixture. If the baby is bottle-fed, a change in the composition of the formula will immediately affect bowel function.
• Complementary foods too early. A smooth transition to regular food is recommended at the age of 6 months. If done earlier, temporary dysfunction is guaranteed. The body does not produce enzymes in the right amounts. This is the case when a child vomits due to dyspepsia.
• Binge eating. A common problem for children of all ages. They eat more than necessary on their own or under pressure from a parent. The intestines do not have time to process the incoming food. There is relief from the vomiting caused by the overflow of the stomach.
• Growth of milk teeth. Teeth begin to appear at the age of 4-5 months. The process is accompanied by functional vomiting and diarrhea.
• Congenital pathologies of the digestive system. At the slightest suspicion of infection, you should call the pediatrician at home.

Causes of diarrhea and vomiting in children aged 1-7 years

When a child turns 1 year old, an important change occurs in his life - weaning. The digestive system becomes similar to an adult, differing only in size. The stool is regular, hard in consistency. The causes of diarrhea are replaced by those characteristic of an adult body:

• Intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery). In some children, there is no temperature reaction to the pathogen. Able to appear on the second day. If the diarrhea contains mucus or has changed color to green, an urgent need to contact a medical facility. Children under 3 years old should be monitored in a hospital.
• Violation of the diet. The main reason for all difficulties with the gastrointestinal tract. Eating too fatty, fried or sweets can cause digestive upset.
• Chronic diarrhea. The main symptoms: 2-5 or more bowel movements per day for three or more weeks, liquid feces. It occurs due to diseases of the esophagus, stomach or pancreas.
• Allergy to selected foods. Individual intolerance can manifest itself in the form of diarrhea or vomiting, without skin redness or swelling.
• Poisoning by chemicals or expired products. In this case, the child vomits violently, and when the stomach is empty - vomits. Diarrhea acts as an additional symptom and allows you to assess the severity of the poisoning.
• Psychological shocks can cause excessive activity of the muscles of the small intestine (irritable bowel syndrome). At the same time, the absorption of food worsens. This is the second most common cause for children over 5 years old.
• Violation of the balance of intestinal microflora. Experts mistakenly call the phenomenon dysbiosis. Occurs after treatment with antimicrobial drugs.
• Infection with helminths. The helminthic invasion is asymptomatic. But reaching a certain population size, worms provoke alternating diarrhea and constipation.
• Violations of the production of enzymes in the digestive tract. Due to the lack or absence of the required elements, food is not completely digested.
• Head trauma. Nausea and vomiting are the main symptoms of closed head injury.

Vomiting and diarrhea in a teenager occurs for similar reasons.

Types of dyspepsia

The most common is a lack of lactase, an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of lactose into simple sugars. Congenital deficiency makes it impossible to eat breast milk and dairy products. Therefore, the child is transferred to an artificial formula without lactose content. Symptoms: loose stools with foam, bloating, intestinal colic, intestinal gas with a sour odor.

Gluten enteropathy is a genetic disease in which plant proteins (gluten, hordein, avenin) are not broken down in the intestines. This makes it impossible to eat cereals from wheat, rye and barley. All products made from wheat and rye flour are banned. It is detected during the first feeding at the age of 6-8 months. Symptoms are: bloating, physical retardation, decreased immunity.

The main pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract in children

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. It proceeds in an acute and chronic form. It occurs due to nutritional disorders and exposure to the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Symptoms: pain in the left hypochondrium, nausea, belching, plaque on the tongue.

Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. The disease is inherited, but the bacterium that causes gastritis provokes its development. Pains on an empty stomach, in the epigastrium and around the navel, occurring 2 hours after eating, are characteristic. Symptoms: vomiting, nausea, heartburn.

Gastroenteritis is an inflammatory disease of the stomach and small intestine. Symptoms: vomiting, fever, flatulence, diarrhea.

Hepatitis is a liver disease in which an organ grows in size. The cause is the hepatitis virus or exposure to the organ of chemicals. Symptoms: pain in the right hypochondrium, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, lack of appetite, vomiting.

Cholecystitis is an infectious disease in which the bile ducts become inflamed. The causative agents are streptococci and staphylococci. It happens as a consequence of the transferred hepatitis. Symptoms: pain in the right side and near the navel, vomiting, nausea, fever.

Pancreatitis is a disease that affects the pancreas. Pathology is characterized by pain in the left side or the whole stomach hurts. The pain can be given to the back or left arm. Symptoms: loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, bloating, diarrhea.

What to do with diarrhea and vomiting

Treatment of diarrhea of ​​an infectious nature is carried out with antiviral drugs and antibiotics under the supervision of a physician.

Diarrhea caused by eating disorders resolves on its own if you follow a strict diet for a week:

• Replenish the loss of fluid with boiled water.
• Kissels, compotes, juices, sweet tea.
• Rice or oatmeal porridge on the water.
• Lean meat (turkey, chicken fillet).
• Boiled vegetables. It is advisable to consume more potatoes. It strengthens the stool and is an excellent source of carbohydrates.
• Fermented milk products: fermented baked milk, katyk, kefir (with care), yogurt.

If diarrhea or vomiting occurs at night, you need to provide first aid:

1. Flush the stomach. For 5-10 minutes, 1-5 liters of warm water are drunk. This is an unpleasant procedure. In the hospital, for this, a probe is inserted into the esophagus and the required amount of fluid is forcibly injected. Rapid filling will induce a gag reflex. If this does not happen, the parent presses with two fingers on the root of the tongue and the child pulls out the drunk liquid. Vomiting removes some of the toxic substance from the body.
2. Give enterosorbent (activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel). It will absorb toxins in the small and large intestines.
3. To replenish lost fluid, take Rehydron or Trisol. Situations like this often happen late at night or at night. If there is no 24-hour pharmacy nearby, it is best to prepare the solution yourself. There are 2 recipes equal in effectiveness. 1st method: pour a mixture of 1 tsp with a liter of boiled water. salt and 4 tsp. Sahara. Take the resulting solution 1 teaspoon every 10 minutes. 2nd method: dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar in 1 liter. Use in the same way as in the first method.
4. Antiemetics and remedies for nausea and diarrhea are not recommended for the purpose of self-purification of the body. Gastric lavage and sorbent intake will be sufficient. If the child gets hungry, give homemade crackers or crackers. They do not irritate the stomach or provoke new vomiting. Within a day, the mucous membrane will return to normal.
5. If diarrhea and vomiting last 2 days or more, seek medical attention.

To treat diarrhea caused by stress or anxiety, you need to find out the cause by talking to your child or seeing a psychologist. For a teenager, a mild sedative is suitable. Tincture of valerian or motherwort, for example.

The well-known pediatrician Komarovsky advises to adhere to the rule, which includes three simple recommendations: cold, hunger and rest. In such conditions, the body will quickly recover.

Prevention of the disorder

To reduce the likelihood of diarrhea, it is enough to follow the recommendations:

• Nutrition - regular and varied, without difficult-to-digest components.
• Remember to wash, boil and peel vegetables, meat and fruits.
• To teach the child to observe the basic rules of personal hygiene.
• When buying food in the store, pay attention to the expiration date.
• Maintain a calm psychological environment in the family.

The digestive system in children is sensitive to dietary changes. Therefore, new foods should be introduced into the diet in small portions. If the child has vomited from food, then washing the stomach and taking activated charcoal will help get rid of diarrhea and vomiting. Diet, clean hands and fresh food guarantee a healthy gastrointestinal tract. You cannot treat a child on your own without consulting a specialist!