Diarrhoea in children: Interview with Dr Jean Claude Bakpatina, General Practitioner at the Floreal Clinic in Lomé.

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Extract from the article: La diarrhée est un problème fréquent chez l'enfant. Ce n'est pas pour autant qu'elle doit être banalisée. Elle entraîne une perte d’eau qui peut s'avérer très dangereuse. Des milliers d’enfants de moins de 5 ans sont d'ailleurs hospitalisés chaque

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«Diarrhoea can be dangerous. If you don't intervene quickly, it can be catastrophic for the child. It's essential to take diarrhoea seriously. »

Diarrhoea is a common problem in children. But that doesn't mean it should be trivialised. It leads to waterloss, which can be very dangerous. Thousands of children under the age of 5 are hospitalised for diarrhoea every year in Togo, and some die as a result. What causes diarrhoea? What should you do if your child suffers from diarrhoea? General practitioner Dr Jean Claude Bakpatina explains.

Health-Education: What is diarrhoea?

Dr Jean Claude Bakpatina : When stools are more liquid and more frequent than usual, we talk about diarrhoea. As a general rule, it's normal for the stools we produce to be of a firm or semi-soft consistency, so when they become liquid and very frequent, we're talking about diarrhoea. It's not enough to have a single liquid stool to call it diarrhoea; a certain frequency is necessary. In general, an infant or child can produce 2 liquid stools a day. However, when more than three loose or liquid stools are present per day, and for less than two weeks, this is considered to be acute diarrhoea.

What symptoms can accompany diarrhoea in children?

Diarrhoea itself is a symptom. Often caused by viruses (rotavirus, mainly in children under 5), it can be accompanied by fever, bloating, vomiting and abdominal cramps. The stools may also be foul-smelling, streaked with mucus and very liquid, and there may be weight loss.

What causes diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea in children can be caused by a poor diet, an excess of sugary foods or sweets (sweets, chocolates, biscuits) or food intolerance (to lactose, for example).It can also be due to food poisoning: poorly cleaned feeding bottles, undrinkable water, dirty hands.

ENT infections (otitis, angina, rhinitis) or respiratory infections (bronchitis, pneumonia) can cause diarrhoea in children.Diarrhoea can also be caused by viral, bacterial or parasitic intestinal infections.

What are the complications of diarrhoea in children?

When children have diarrhoea, they lose water and mineral salts. If this is not compensated for, there will be an imbalance in the body, leading to a serious complication known as dehydration.These losses of water and mineral salts can very quickly have a major impact.Signs of dehydration include impaired consciousness, pallor and dark circles around the eyes, and rapid breathing. If this condition is not corrected quickly, the child may go into a coma and die.

Is diarrhoea contagious?

Whether diarrhoea is contagious depends on its cause.In the case of food poisoning, it's easy for anyone who has been exposed to the same food to develop diarrhoea. So it's essential to wash your hands before eating or feeding your child, and above all to teach them to wash their hands when they get home from school, or before any meal.It is also advisable to pay particular attention to cleaning surfaces that the child touches.

When should a doctor be consulted?

In the event of diarrhoea (more than 3 loose or liquid stools per day), it is important to consult a health professional if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours.However, if diarrhoea is accompanied by fever, vomiting, refusal to eat or extreme tiredness, you should seek medical attention without delay, as it can quickly become complicated.

How is diarrhoea treated in children?

In general, rapid rehydration with oral rehydration salts and resumption of feeding should help to overcome acute diarrhoea.If the child cannot drink directly, infusions are given to compensate for any fluid lost through diarrhoea.

However, if this is not enough, the healthcare professional may give appropriate medication. In all cases, the healthcare professional will be able to assess the situation and combine all the appropriate measures.

What should I do if my child has diarrhoea?

When a child has diarrhoea, you need to give him drinking water to compensate for the losses.In practice, give them rice water.Also give them an oral rehydration solution (ORS), whatever their age.This is a powder to be poured into water, specially designed to prevent dehydration. They are available from chemists.

Can diarrhoea be prevented?

Yes, but first you need to pay attention to your child's diet. Changes in diet should be gradual, not abrupt. Especially when you want to wean your child, so that he can adapt to and tolerate the new food.

It's also important to be careful with your child's food.Make sure food is well stored or covered.Take care with food paid for by the roadside.

There are also vaccines that can prevent viral diarrhoea in infants and children. As well as food hygiene, you need to ensure that your child's body and environment are clean. Children tend to put everything they find in their mouths, so make sure their hands are clean and teach them to avoid putting everything in their mouths.

Your advice to parents

It's essential to take diarrhoea seriously.It's important for parents to take care of their child's diet, its composition and cleanliness.The child should be monitored until the diarrhoea is over.If the diarrhoea is accompanied by other symptoms, it is advisable to consult your doctor.

Interview by Abel OZIH