Symptoms and diet of bacterial dysentery in children. Know these to keep your baby away from the disease

Bacillary dysentery is abbreviated as bacillary dysentery. This disease is a common intestinal infectious disease in summer and autumn. It refers to dysentery-like lesions caused by infection with some pathogens, such as Shigella, invasive Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, etc. In countries with backward sanitary conditions, it accounts for more than 15% of the total number of infectious diarrhea cases. Children of all age groups are particularly susceptible, and it is more common in children over 3 years old. It can occur throughout the year and is more prevalent in summer and autumn. Let's take a look at the causes, symptoms and dietary principles of bacillary dysentery in children.

Causes of bacillary dysentery in children

1. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of bacillary dysentery in infants and young children. Some infants have been given complementary foods too early. This is because the diet of infants and young children tends to be diversified, and the variety has increased too much. For example, parents begin to feed watermelon juice, apple puree, etc. to babies who have just turned one month old. Some parents also feed their children fish, shrimp, meat floss, etc. too early. These foods are easily contaminated by bacteria during storage and feeding, thereby increasing the chance of infection.

2. Currently, bacillary dysentery can be seen almost all year round. The disease season is no longer limited to summer and autumn, because in recent years, fruits, fish, shrimp and other foods can be eaten all year round. Even in winter, bacillary dysentery in infants is not uncommon. It is not uncommon for infants and young children to be infected with bacillary dysentery after eating watermelon in winter.

Symptoms of bacillary dysentery in children

1. Sudden onset, low or high fever, sudden fever, sometimes high fever convulsions in infants and young children; 2. Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, general fatigue;

3. Intermittent abdominal pain, mild tenderness in the abdomen, hyperactive bowel sounds, and sometimes the spasmodic sigmoid colon can be felt in the left lower abdomen; 4. Diarrhea, with mucus, pus and blood in the stool, 10-30 bowel movements per day, and a feeling of tenesmus and heaviness after defecation.

Dietary principles for bacillary dysentery in children

1. When abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea are obvious, you should fast. When the symptoms are slightly relieved to ensure adequate rest of the intestines, you can eat nutritious, light, easily digestible, low-fat liquid food. You need to replenish water and electrolytes. You can eat 6 meals a day. You should eat small meals frequently every day, with each meal consisting of 200 ml to 250 ml.

2. After the symptoms of fever and diarrhea have improved, transition from semi-liquid food with little residue and oil to semi-liquid, soft or normal food. You can eat a low-residue and non-irritating diet, 3 or 5 meals a day, and the amount should not be too much. The child should drink plenty of water to improve dehydration and toxemia. Avoid eating fried or deep-fried food to facilitate the excretion of toxins. Avoid celery, radish, leek, coffee, alcohol, strong tea, irritating condiments, raw and cold food. Eat a normal diet after the intestinal lesions have recovered.