Diarrhea is a leading cause of illness and death among
children in developing countries, where an estimated 1.3 thousand million
episodes and 4 million deaths occur each year in children under the age of 5.

Diarrhea, according to world Health Organization (WHO) is
the frequent passage of watery stool in a 24 hours period, which is considered
abhormal. Although diarrhea disease affects adults and children, it is usually
less harmful to adults than to children. It can also affect a country’s economy
by reducing the health of its workforce. Fortunately, simple and effective
treatment measures are available that mothers can use for their children which
will reduce death rate in diarrhea, and make hospitalization unnecessary in
most cases, while preventing the adverse effect of diarrhea on nutritional
status?

In cold climates (cold region), bacterial diarrheas occur
more frequently during  the warm season,
whereas viral diarrhea particularly disease caused by rotavirus, is at peak
during the winter, while in tropical climates (hot region), rotavirus diarrhea
occurs throughout the year, increasing infrequency during the driver, cool
months, where as bacterial diarrheas peak during warmer, rainy season.

The micro-organisms that cause diarrhea are; viruses –
Rotavirus (The commonest), Norwalth agents, enteric adenoviruses (rarely), this
viruses – replicate (multiply) within the villous epithelium of the small
intestine (bowel) causing patchy epithelical cell destruction and villous
shortening leading to inadequate absorption of water and electrltyes, and loss
of disaccharidase enzymes leading to reduced absorption of dietrry
disaccharides, especially lactose.

Bacteria – Escherichia coli (the commonest), shigella,
vibrio cholera, campylobacter jejuni, cryptosporidium.

In bacteria, instestinal mucosal adhesion thereby reducing
its absorptive capacity or cause fluid secretion. Toxins produced by these
bacteria damage the epithelial cell (loss of function) thereby causing
secretion of water and electrolytes into the intentine.

Intestional mucosal invasion – this cases bloody diarrhea by
invading and destroying intestional mucosal epithelial (lining) cells mostly in
the colon and the distal part of the ileum.

Protozoa – Giardia Lamblia, Entamoeba histolytics, isospora
belli. This is intestinal mucosal adhesion and invasion.

Mothers are advised to be more careful with their children
as they are more tender. It should be taken into consideration that the behaviors
that increases the risk of diarrhea especially in children are; failing to
breast-feed exclusively (only breast milk) for the 1st 4-6 months of the baby’s
life.

Using infant feeding bottles, storing cooked for at room
temperature, drinking water that is contaminated with faucal bacteria, failing
to wash hands after defecation before handling the child’s food, poor hygiene,
malnutrition, measles, immunodeficiency or immunosuppression (reduced)

This disease can be treated immunity at home by mothers, this
treatment is an essential part of the correct management of acute diarrhoeal
diseases. It begins at home and children seen at a health facility will usually
continue to have diarrhea after returning home.

Children must first receive proper treatment at home if
dehydration and nutitional damage are to be prevented. Mothers who understand
home treatment should begin it before seeking medical care. The 3 basic hoe
theraphy,give the child more fluids (water) than usual, to prevent dyhydration.
Fluids to give are salt sugar solution, fresh fruit juices diluted with an
equal amount of clean water, garri water, green coconut water and plain water.
Although breast milk is considered a food, it is also an important home fluid
and should be given freely.

Note that sweetened drinks such as sweet teas, soft drinks
and commercial fruit drinks should be avoided also fluids with purgative action
and stimulants such as coffee should be avoided.

Many children refuse to eat but need to be forced or applied
to eat.

Take the child to a health facility if the diarrhea does not
get better after home therapy.

Its with the knowledge of all this that mothers are advised
to be extremely careful when handling their babies, as this disease may be seen
as little but takes the lives of children who are not properly treated at a
early stage. Babies, especially those who can’t talk can explain to their
mothers how they feel inside. It is now the duty of the mum to be watchful as
to detate the changes in the baby’s body and give accurate information’s to
health workers while seeking professional assistant.

Osamende is of RSUST ,

Port Harcourt.

Osamende Stephanie Ogunrobo