Act fast when diarrhoea strikes in infants and young children

Act fast when diarrhoea strikes

in infants and young children

Diarrhoea is still one of the leading causes of death, ill health and disability among children younger than five, accounting for 19% of deaths of under-fives in South Africa and for 46% on the African continent.1 Globally, diarrhoea is the second leading infectious cause of death, accounting for 9.2% of deaths in under-fives.1

According to Momeena Omarjee, Consumer Healthcare Country Head: Scientific Affairs, at Sanofi South Africa, diarrhoea and vomiting are more dangerous for infants and toddlers because they are at far greater risk of dehydration.2

“Babies younger than six months are most at risk of dehydration, because their bodies haven’t developed to the point where they can handle the significant loss of fluid caused by vomiting or a runny stomach,2” says Omarjee.

If your child has diarrhoea and is refusing to take medicine or vomits up anything you’ve tried to give them, this is a serious situation because they may become dehydrated.2 Severe dehydration can lead to hospitalisation and possibly death.3

DANGER

Danger signs to watch out for

There are some signs and symptoms that dehydration might be developing; these include the following2:

• blood in the stool, especially with fever • severe and worsening cramps • dry mouth • sunken fontanelle (soft spot on the top, back, and sides of your baby’s head) • sunken eyes • absence of tears • unusually fast heart rate or fast breathing • listlessness • decrease in the number of wet nappies

How can you treat diarrhoea?

If the diarrhoea and vomiting has continued for more than four to six hours, you should have your child assessed by a healthcare provider urgently; if the illness strikes at night, visit your nearest emergency centre.2

If your child has mild-to-moderate dehydration, try to give them fluids as soon as possible.3 You can buy oral rehydration solution from any pharmacy.3 You can also make your own oral rehydration solution at home.4

How to make your own oral rehydration solution4

1

2

Wash your hands well. Have a clean bottle or jug ready.

You will need clean water, salt, and sugar. The water can be bottled drinking water or water that has been boiled and left to cool. Encourage your child to drink small amounts of the oral rehydration solution or, if you’re breastfeeding, keep up with your schedule, as breast milk is an ideal fluid for rehydration.2 The child can be fed with milk and porridge as usual if over the age of six months.3

Food isn’t the main priority when you’re trying to manage diarrhoea and vomiting.2 It’s far more important to ensure that your child takes in fluids after every diarrhoeal episode, to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.2

3

4

Mix 2.5ml (half a level teaspoon) of salt and 6 level teaspoons of sugar.

Add 1 litre of clean water and mix until the salt and sugar dissolve.

GIVE:

• Babies/infants: 500ml every 24 hours • Children aged 2-9 years: one litre every 24 hours • Children over 10 and adults: three litres every 24 hours.4 The aim of treatment for acute diarrhoea in children is to prevent or manage dehydration, prevent weight loss, encourage catch-up growth during recovery, shorten the duration of the illness and decrease the impact of the diarrhoea on the child’s health.5

Reducing the risk of getting diarrhoea

Breastfeeding, a clean safe water supply, appropriate hand-washing and good sanitation should help prevent most cases of diarrhoea.6

A number of studies have also shown that giving probiotics helps shorten the duration of diarrhoea and prevents it from happening again.7

“Gut health refers to the health of the body's whole digestive system, and good gut health is crucial for one’s wellbeing. If parents give children a daily, regular probiotic, this could really go a long way in promoting gut health and preventing diarrhoea and illness,” says Omarjee.

Addressing the severity of diarrhoea in South Africa

Research shows that diarrhoea is closely linked to socio-economic status, and that children in South Africa living in poverty are approximately 10 times more likely to die from diarrhoea than their more privileged counterparts.8

“Many under-privileged children in South Africa do not have adequate access to clean, drinkable water and quality early childcare and development. They also experience limited access to health and nutrition services.

“Sanofi is committed to ensuring that no child dies of a preventable disease, especially when there are effective treatments available. Parents and caregivers need to act promptly and seek assistance when instances of diarrhoea in children under the age of five do not abate swiftly,” adds Omarjee. 

... ensure that your child takes in fluids after every diarrhoeal episode...

References: 1. Awotione, O.F., et al. 2016. Systematic review: Diarrhoea in children under five years of age in South Africa (1997-2014). Tropical Medicine and International Health, 21(9), 1060-1070. 2. Linde, B. 2022. Diarrhoea in children: when to worry. Mediclinic Infohub. Available at: https://www. mediclinicinfohub.co.za/diarrhoea-in-children-when-to-worry, accessed 6 October 2022. 3. Datuk, Z.I. 2015. The dangers of dehydration in children. Positive Parenting. Available from: https:// mypositiveparenting.org/2015/12/24/the-dangers-of-dehydration-in-children/dangers-of-dehydration/, accessed 6 October 2022. 4. Carberry, C. 2022. Wikihow. How to Make an Oral Rehydration Salts Drink (ORS). Available at: https://www. wikihow.com/make-an-oral-rehydration-salts-drink-(ors), accessed 6 October 2022. 5. Nel, E. 2010. Diarrhoea and malnutrition. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 23, suppl 1, 15-18. 6. Child Healthcare. n.d. How can the risk of diarrhoea be reduced? Available from: https://childhealthcare.co.za, accessed 29 September 2022. 7. Solis, B. et al. 2002. Probiotics as a help in children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhoea. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56, S57-59. 8. Chola, L., et al. 2015. Reducing diarrhoea deaths in South Africa: costs and effects of scaling up essential interventions to prevent and treat diarrhoea in under five children. BMC Public Health, 15, 394.

Babies and unexpected diarrhoea Help bring the balance back with INTEFLORA

If your infant or child experiences a sudden bout of diarrhoea caused by an infection it can be a serious problem which can lead to dehydration.1

Diarrhoea is often a consequence of a disturbance of bowel gut fl ora which can occur during an infection or antibiotic treatment.2

INTEFLORA contains a probiotic known as Saccharomyces boulardii CNC I-745 that:3 CNC I-745 that: • Improves the consistency of stools and Improves the consistency of stools and is well-tolerated. • Signifi cantly reduces the duration of acute diarrhoea in infants and children acute diarrhoea in infants and children Trust INTEFLORA 250, indicated for antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and non-specifi c sudden diarrhoea. Suitable non-specifi c sudden diarrhoea. Suitable for infants, children, and adults.

in 2020

1. WHO Diarrhoeal Disease Fact Sheet. Diarrhoeal Disease. World Health Organisation. [updated 2017 May 02; cited 2022 August 01] Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease 2. Neut C, et al. Antibiotic susceptibility of probiotic strains: Is it reasonable to combine probiotics with antibiotics? Med Mal Infect. [updated 2017 November 10; cited 2022 August 01] Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.medmal.2017.07.001 3. Billoo AG, et al. Role of a probiotic (Saccharomyces boulardii) in management and prevention of diarrhoea. World Journal of Gastroenterology. [updated 2006 July 28; cited 2022 August 01] Available from: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v12/i28/4557 4. IQVIA MIDAS 2020 (ATC: A7F) & IQVIA OTCims 2020 (OTC: 03F1/03D5) & Deduplication.

* in value

S0 INTEFLORA 250 (capsule). Ref. No.: T194 (Act 101/1965). Each capsule contains 250 mg lyophilised cells of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745® . Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the Aspen Group of companies. © 2022 Aspen Group of companies or its licensor. All rights reserved. Marketed by Pharmacare Limited t/a Aspen Pharmacare Co. Reg. No.: 1898/000252/06. Healthcare Park, Woodlands Drive, Woodmead, 2191. ZAR-SAB-07-22-00003 08/2022