Diarrhoea is a common disease of childhood. Diarrhoea has various causes in a child. Overfeeding or malnutrition, indigestion, infection, food poisoning, ingestion of toxins, food allergies, autoimmune illnesses, chronic inflammatory states are some of the commonest causes of diarrhoea. Diarrhoea might be acute or chronic, self limiting or ongoing. It may be associated with other symptoms or present as solitary symptom.
In any case diarrhoea is distressing to the child and is a cause of concern for the parents. Diarrhoea may lead to serious complications such as dehydration, kidney failure, neurological symptoms such as seizures or paralysis. In some cases it may prove fatal if not treated promptly.
Number of times aetiology of diarrhoea is unclear in the beginning and the treatment is mainly supportive. Only a few cases require antibiotics. Severe cases require hospitalisation. In general prevention is better than cure as far as infections are concerned.
Maintenance of personal hygiene, good washing practices, providing clean water and fresh, well cooked, uncontaminated food are essential in preventing infections. Certain foods like, mushrooms, oysters, fish and meat should be ingested carefully. Only pasteurised milk should be consumed and outside food should be avoided.
A child with diarrhoea should be started with oral rehydration therapy at home if he is not vomiting. Sugar syrups or carbonated drinks should never be used for this purpose. Rather ORS should be started. Careful watch should be kept on temperature, urine output, activity and level of consciousness of the patient. A child with high grade fever, severe diarrhoea and vomiting, convulsions or limpness should be taken to the doctor immediately.
Homoeopathy is commonly used in the treatment of acute as well as chronic diarrhoea. Homoeopathy acts on the host factors to get rid of the disease. Hence infections are overcome by the body itself and allergic or autoimmune illnesses are cured without any immunosuppression. Homeopathic remedies act gently and rapidly without producing any side effects so that there are no lingering symptoms post treatment of diarrhoea.
Dr. Navin Pawaskar,
Director,
JIMS Healthcare.
