DIARRHOEA

Hello Everyone out there !!

Wish you all a very happy monsoon !!

There are always 2 sides of a coin...

One side of the monsoon shows greenery, blooming of trees, merry atmosphere and many more ...

but the other side of monsoon shows water lodging, increase in number of insects and diseases and the most important one DIARRHEA !!

So today as a public health nutritionist I would like to talk to you people out there about Diarrhea.

So lets begin ....

Definition:

Diarrhoea is the passage of 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than is normal for the individual. It is usually a symptom of gastrointestinal infection, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person to person as a result of poor hygiene.

Severe diarrhoea leads to fluid loss, and may be life-threatening, particularly in young children and people who are malnourished or have impaired immunity.

Diarrhea kills 2,195 children every day—more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined .

Diarrheal diseases account for 1 in 9 child deaths worldwide, making diarrhea the second leading cause of death among children under the age of 5. For children with HIV, diarrhea is even more deadly; the death rate for these children is 11 times higher than the rate for children without HIV . Despite these sobering statistics, strides made over the last 20 years have shown that, in addition to rota-virus vaccination and breastfeeding, diarrhea prevention focused on safe water and improved hygiene and sanitation is not only possible, but cost effective: every $1 invested yields an average return of $25.50 .

Causes of Diarrhea:

—It causes death by depleting body fluids resulting in profound dehydration.
—Diarrhea can have a detrimental impact on childhood growth and cognitive development.
—About 88% of diarrhea-associated deaths are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene.
—Rotavirus is the leading cause of acute diarrhea and causes about 40% of hospitalizations for diarrhea in children under 5.
—Most diarrheal germs are spread from the stool of one person to the mouth of another. These germs are usually spread through contaminated water, food, or objects.

Pathophysiology of Diarrhoea

- Diarrhea is the passage of 3 or more loose or liquid stools per day, or more frequently than is normal for the individual.

—It is usually a symptom of gastrointestinal infection, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms.

—Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person to person as a result of poor hygiene.

—Severe diarrhea leads to fluid loss, and may be life-threatening, particularly in young children and people who are malnourished or have impaired immunity.

Diarrhea deaths:

Diarrhea kills more children than malaria, measles, and AIDS combined. Proportional distribution of cause-specific deaths among children under five years of age, 2012 (excluding neonatal deaths) .

·         Water, food, and objects become contaminated with stool in many ways:

o    People and animals defecate in or near water sources that people drink.

o    Contaminated water is used to irrigate crops.

o    Food preparers do not wash their hands before cooking.

o    People with contaminated hands touch objects, such as doorknobs, tools,or cooking utensils.

·         Vaccinate for rotavirus

·         Provide

o    Safe water

o    Adequate sanitation and human waste disposal

·         Promote

o    Handwashing with soap

o    Breastfeeding to reduce exposure to contaminated water

·         Treat appropriately with oral rehydration therapy and antibiotics

·         Train health care providers and community health workers on diarrhea treatment

·         Educate mothers and caretakers about caring for ill children and when to seek medical assistance

·         Build laboratory diagnostic capability and identify the causes of diarrhea

What Can Be Done

Use effective interventions and proven treatment for diarrhea.

Governments and ministries of health can:

·         Provide rotavirus vaccination

·         Invest in safe drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation infrastructure

·         Monitor progress and needs through the collection, analysis, and reporting of quality data

·         Support clear and targeted health promotion and behavior change programs

Non-governmental/aid organizations can:

·         Increase the adoption of proven measures against diarrhea

o    Rotavirus vaccination

o    Breastfeeding

o    Oral rehydration therapy

o    Household and community systems for treating and storing water

·         Educate communities on the importance of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene

·         Enhance and support government initiatives that invest in safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure

·         Ensure the sustainability of interventions

·         Focus on the provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene when responding to emergency and conflict situations

Health care providers and clinical facilities can:

·         Ensure availability of adequate medical supplies such as oral rehydration solution

·         Improve training programs for health workers and educate them on the proper treatment of diarrhea

·         Ensure that facilities for handwashing, provision of safe water, and proper disposal of human waste are provided at ALL healthcare facilities

·         Encourage appropriate antibiotic use

·         Meet demand for health workers

·         Support community health workers

o    Improve training programs

o    Seek creative ways to motivate them

Communities can:

·         Support and promote the importance of community health workers

·         Ensure safe water is provided close to people’s homes

·         Discourage/eliminate open defecation

·         Develop strategies for proper disposal of human waste

·         Construct basic sanitation facilities

·         Promote hand washing

Diet for Children With Diarrhea

• Baked or broiled chicken or fish
• Cooked eggs.
• boiled potato
• plain white rice

• Bananas and other fresh fruits.
• Apple sauce.
• Bread products made from refined, white flour.
• Pasta or white rice.
• Cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes.
• Pancakes and waffles made with white flour and unseasoned vrakers

Bland foods that may help with diarrhea include:

• hot cereals, such as oatmeal, cream of wheat, or rice porridge.
• bananas.
• applesauce.
• plain white rice.
• bread or toast.
• boiled potatoes.
• unseasoned crackers.
• In general, removing seeds and skins from these foods is best.

Use low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt. If dairy products are making the diarrhea worse or causing gas and bloating, your child may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days.

Children should be allowed to take their time returning to their normal eating habits. For some children, a return to their regular diet can also bring a return of diarrhea. This is often due to mild problems the gut has while absorbing regular foods.