Dysentery is a fairly common disease, which is accompanied by damage to the large intestine and disruption of the normal processes of digestion. Many parents are interested in the question of what are the main symptoms of dysentery in children. After all, statistics show that it is small children aged two to seven years who are most susceptible to this disease.
Dysentery in children and its causes
As you know, this is an infectious disease caused by various strains of Escherichia coli, in particular Flexner and Sonne strains. After penetration into the body, some of the microbes die under the influence of gastric juice. The same microorganisms that managed to get into the intestinal tract settle in the folds of the colon mucosa.
It is worth noting that most often infection occurs when eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, contaminated water, as well as low-qualitydairy products. Often, the symptoms of dysentery in children also occur when the rules of hygiene are not followed - experts consider this problem to be a “disease of dirty hands”. Naturally, infection of the body can also occur during contact with an infected person.
Dysentery in children: symptoms
This infection has a short incubation period - as a rule, the first signs appear after a few days (from 1 to 7 seven days). To begin with, the child becomes capricious, refuses to eat. Older children complain of constant nausea, up to repeated vomiting.
E. coli secrete toxins into the blood, which are nothing more than waste products of microorganisms. These substances have a bad effect on the functioning of the body, causing the main symptoms of intoxication. For example, headaches, dizziness, weakness, fatigue are all symptoms of dysentery in children.
In addition, there are signs of disruption of the intestines. In particular, diarrhea is characteristic of dysentery. It is worth paying attention to the child's stool, since with such a lesion of the digestive system, stool masses may contain greenish mucous clots, and sometimes streaks of blood. Of course, over time, diarrhea leads to gradual dehydration of the body, which is extremely dangerous, especially at such a tender age. There are also frequent bouts of dull but severe abdominal pain.
As you can see, the symptoms of dysentery in children are very typical. That's whyat their first appearance, you must call a doctor. Indeed, in this case, self-treatment is dangerous. In the absence of qualified medical care, the disease can lead to severe complications, including neurological disorders and unconsciousness.
Treatment of dysentery in children
Only a doctor knows what is dysentery in children, symptoms, treatment of the disease. Therefore, the treatment regimen is determined only after receiving the results of the tests. In some cases, you need to take antibiotics, for example, Ampicillin. In addition, it is important to stop the dehydration process and restore normal water and electrolyte balance.
Extremely important part of the treatment is the right diet. Firstly, doctors recommend eating many times a day, but in small portions - so it will be easier for the digestive system to cope with its own functions. In addition, dairy products should be excluded from the diet, as well as foods containing coarse plant fibers, as they irritate the intestines even more.
