What foods are good for children with diarrhea?
Disease description:
The child has had diarrhea for several days, passing watery stools, and told me he feels weak. I'm really worried. Doctor, what foods are good for a child with diarrhea?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Dietary recommendations for children with diarrhea typically include the following types of food:
1. Light and easily digestible foods: such as well-cooked noodles, millet porridge, and thin congee. These foods are easy to digest and absorb, placing minimal burden on the child's gastrointestinal tract.
2. Foods rich in pectin: such as cooked apples and carrot soup. The pectin in apples, once cooked, has an antidiarrheal effect, while the pectin in carrot soup helps form stools and adsorbs bacteria and toxins within the intestines.
3. Attention to food hygiene: ensure all food is fresh, clean, thoroughly cooked, and avoid consumption of potentially contaminated food to prevent bacterial infections that may cause diarrhea again.
4. Foods rich in zinc: such as soy products and soybean sprouts. Zinc helps repair the intestinal mucosa and shortens the duration of diarrhea.
5. Replenishment of fluids and electrolytes: diarrhea causes significant loss of fluids and electrolytes, so timely replacement is necessary. Oral rehydration solutions, coconut water, or lightly salted water may be given to help maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
If diarrhea persists or is accompanied by other severe symptoms, prompt medical attention should be sought to avoid delaying treatment.
