Infant Diarrhea Treatment
Treatment of diarrhea is based on rehydration. Rehydration solutions contains water, key electrolytes and small amount of sugar. Generally, oral rehydration, being inexpensive and accessible, is used in the prevention and treatment of dehydration. The use of oral rehydration significantly reduces hospital visits, complications, and mortality (5-12). Diarrhea caused by bacteria may require additional treatment with antibiotics.
The Dangers of Conventional Diarrhea Medicines
Many antidiarrheal agents—such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), cholestyramine, chlorpromazine, and diosmelith loperamide (13-17)—used in the reduction and severity of diarrhea have not proven to be consistently effective (18). The most commonly used antidiarrheal drugs may even cause serious side effects. For example, Pepto-Bismol can cause Reye’s Syndrome, a form of fatal liver failure. Loperamide, one of the most commonly used antiperistaltic agents, is not recommended for use in young children and infants, because of the high incidence of ileus (abnormal reduction of intestinal contractions), and respiratory distress (19-21). Lomotil, which contains an opium derivative diphenoxylate and atropine, can cause fever, elevation of heart rate, and respiratory depression.
Although antiperistaltic and antisecretory agents may diminish the volume of stool, shorten the duration of diarrhea, reduce the degree of dehydration, and eliminate the need for rehydration therapy, these currently available agents are not safe in the treatment of diarrhea and prevention of dehydration in children. Thickening stool with kaopectate or smectite only enhances cosmetic changes of the stool, causing it to appear better formed. These agents do not actually reduce the volume of stool output and the amount of associated water and electrolyte losses (22-23).
Due to their astringent properties, plant-derived tannins (such as tormentil root) are known to have an antidiarrheal effect. In infants, an oral administration of a plant-derived preparation containing tannins in a dose of 600 mg/kg/day can reduce duration of diarrhea (24).
QuickLyte is safe, has no known side effects, and helps improve the water and electrolyte balance of your child.
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