What to do if a child is poisoned

Abdominal pain, nausea and upset stool are common companions of summer. It's a shame if they "join" you in the midst of a vacation at the resort. It is even worse when children fall prey to symptoms. Diarrhea, vomiting, and high fever may be indicative of "beach treats" poisoning, but can also be signs of an acute intestinal infection. How can you help a child in such a situation? When is there a reason to give sorbents, and in what cases can you not do without antibiotics? This was told by the head Evidence Center for Contemporary Pediatrics Sergey Makarov.

Step 1. Establishing the reason

A child's gastrointestinal upset usually takes parents by surprise. It is important here not to panic, but to try to establish the cause. By the word "poisoning" we often mean the same symptoms, but they can have completely different causes at the root. It can be directly

food poisoning tainted foods or toxins. Or it is a disease that was caused by viruses or bacteria entering the child's body. In this case, we are talking about intestinal infections.

“One can try to understand the cause of the disease from the anamnesis. It is necessary to remember what the child ate and with whom he was in contact. Food poisoning manifests itself quickly, after 1-3 hours. If you bought a pie on the beach or a child is full at the market of unwashed berries, and after a couple of hours "started" - this is poisoning. If you are sure of the quality of the food, but the child has a "bouquet" of unpleasant symptoms, and in addition, the neighboring children have the same problems, it is quite logical to suspect an intestinal infection ",

- advises Sergey Makarov.

Signs of food poisoning:

• abdominal cramps;
• nausea, vomiting
•  diarrhea;
• weakness, malaise;
• moderate rise in temperature;
• short incubation period - from 1 to 6 hours;
• the rapid development of the disease;
• mass defeat - symptoms of poisoning in everyone who consumed the product.

Signs of an intestinal infection:

• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• abdominal discomfort;
• fever;
• symptoms of infection usually appear 1–3 days after infection.

Step 2. Getting rid of toxins

There are quite a few acute intestinal infections (OCI or gastroenteritis). To catch them, the child sometimes needs to play with other people's toys. Today, in pharmacies, you can buy express tests to identify various pathogens of AEI. But Makarov sees no need for a “home” diagnosis: “Without consulting a doctor, parents are unlikely to decide what to do with the rotavirus and what with the norovirus. In addition, with a mild degree of disorder, the tactics of treating gastroenteritis and poisoning are the same. The only difference is that if we clearly know that the problem is in poor-quality food, then we give the child a sorbent. If there is a suspicion of an intestinal infection, there is no sense in giving the sorbent in this case, ”the expert emphasizes.

Sometimes it happens that food poisoning goes away without vomiting. Then, before taking the sorbent, it makes sense to clear the stomach. To do this, you need to drink 3-5 cups of warm water and induce a gag reflex in the child (press on the root of the tongue with clean hands). We do the same if the child does not have diarrhea: we cleanse the lower intestines. It is good in such situations to put an enema with salted boiled water (at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. salt per liter of water).

Step 3. Replenish fluid loss

In all other respects, the main rule is one - to ensure that there is no unnecessary loss of fluid. “The child must be constantly unsoldered,” warns Serey Makarov. - In this case, you need to give the drink a little, literally a tablespoon, but often, every 15-20 minutes. The main indicator of fluid deficiency is the toilet. When a child pees little, concentrated, dark urine is one of the first signs of dehydration. "

Ordinary water is not enough to replace liquid losses. It is better to take a pharmacy rehydration solution based on mineral salts. If such preparations are not at hand, mineral water, weak green or herbal tea, a decoction of chamomile, rose hips will do. " You can prepare a homemade version of the saline solution: dissolve in a liter of chilled boiled water for 1 tsp. l. salt and baking soda and 2 tbsp. l. sugar (recipe according to the WHO recommendation). It is necessary to store such a solution, like a pharmacy one, in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

Step 4. We control the state

With all the calls not to panic, doctors insist: children with poisoning and gastroenteritis can only be treated at home with a mild degree of the disease (abdominal discomfort, nausea, single vomiting and slight loosening of the stool). In more severe cases, consult a doctor. Urgent hospitalization is indicated for children under three years of age at the slightest sign of poisoning or intestinal upset. Remember that such babies are strictly forbidden to wash their stomachs on their own.

“It is imperative to show older children to the doctor if the parents are unable to solder the patient through the mouth,” recalls Sergei Makarov. - For example, a child has severe vomiting, and the liquid simply cannot be retained in the body. In this case, the doctor may prescribe an antiemetic. In acute gastroenteritis, an antidiarrheal drug can also be used as directed by a doctor, which can reduce stool volume and the frequency of bowel movements. Attention to parents: loperamide cannot be used in the treatment of children! If these measures do not help, and the child continues to lose fluid, rehydration solutions must be administered intravenously - in a hospital and under the supervision of a doctor. "

Step 5. Keeping a diet

If you vomit or have diarrhea, the baby does not need to be fed. Most likely, he himself will not have time for sweets, and in this case, parents should not insist. When the acute period passes, you can offer sweet tea, rice broth, dried fruit compote, bread dried in a pan, porridge boiled in water and mashed potatoes without oil. The first portions should be small, half the size of the usual portions. There can be 5-6 meals a day, between them it is important to provide the child with an adequate drinking regime. The first couple of days not worth giving to the child fresh vegetables and fruits, dairy products, bakery and pasta.

At the same time, you need to keep a diet without fanaticism. “The current recommendations for the treatment of gastroenteritis in children say: as soon as vomiting stops and normal fluid balance, the child should gradually be transferred to a normal children's diet, - emphasizes Sergey Makarov. - The only thing that is recommended to limit is fresh milk, because after intestinal infections in children there is a short-term lactose intolerance. However, this does not apply to breast milk, which, although it contains lactose, also contains a lot of elements that a child needs to recover. Therefore, even with an intestinal infection of breastfed babies, weaning is strictly not recommended.

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