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DiarrhoeaSupporting Information |
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1.Diarrhoea kills children by draining liquid from the body, which dehydrates the child. As soon as diarrhoea starts, it is essential to give the child extra fluids along with regular foods and fluids. |
Why it is important - All key messages - Resources A child has diarrhoea when she or he passes three or more watery stools a day. The more numerous the watery stools, the more dangerous the diarrhoea. Some people think that drinking liquids makes diarrhoea worse. This is not true. A child with diarrhoea should be given drinks, including breastmilk, as often as possible. Drinking lots of liquids helps to replace the fluids lost during diarrhoea. Recommended drinks for a child with diarrhoea include:
To avoid dehydration, breastfed children should breastfeed as often as possible. Children who are not breastfeeding should drink the following amounts of liquids every time a watery stool is passed:
Drinks should be given from a clean cup. A feeding bottle should not be used. It is difficult to clean bottles completely, and unclean bottles can contain germs that cause diarrhoea. If the child vomits, the caregiver should wait 10 minutes and then begin again to give the drink to the child slowly, small sips at a time. The child should be given extra liquids in addition to regular foods and drinks until the diarrhoea has stopped. Diarrhoea usually stops after three or four days. If it lasts longer, parents or other caregivers should seek help from a trained health worker. |
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