Infantile diarrhea refers to a digestive ailment in babies characterized by increased stool frequency and/or altered stool shape, which can be caused by multiple pathogens or factors.

Among these, rotavirus enteritis causes seasonal epidemics, which we usually call infantile autumn diarrhea. Rotavirus is the leading causative agent of severe dehydrating diarrhea in children under 5 years of age.

Rotavirus enteritis is infectious. Hands, contaminated food and water can be rotavirus vectors, and both adults and children are at risk of infection. Rotavirus enteritis is more common in children under 5 years of age, with 90 percent of infections occurring in infants and children between 6 months and 2 years of age.

How to identify and diagnose the disease?

Stool sample test.

How to treat the disease?

1. Dietetic treatment

Restoring diet as soon as possible can alleviate the gastrointestinal epithelial permeability changes caused by infection, shorten the course of the disease, and improve children's nutritional status.

For breastfed babies: Continue on-demand feeding.

For formula-fed babies: Lactose-free or low-lactose formula should be selected to continue feeding on the premise that sufficient water is supplemented to meet energy and nutrition needs.

For older children, dietary options are not restricted. They can eat grains, meat, yogurt, fruits and vegetables. High-concentration monosaccharide diets are not recommended, including carbonated drinks, jellies, canned juices, desserts and other sugary beverages and high-fat foods.

2. Drug treatment

Four drugs are proved effective in the treatment of infantile autumn diarrhea. They need to be used as directed by a doctor.

(1). Oral rehydration salt (ORS)

ORS is strongly recommended to prevent dehydration and the treatment of mild and severe dehydration. In children suffering from diarrhea who do not have dehydration symptoms, ORS is mainly to prevent dehydration.

Children with diarrhea can be given ORS or drinking water; supplemented after each watery stool (50 milliliters for babies < 6 months; 100 ml for babies 6 months to 2 years old; 150 ml for 2- to 10-year-old children) until vomiting and diarrhea cease.

(2). Montmorillonite powder

This powder can shorten the course of diarrhea, reduce the amount of defecation and increase the cure rate.

(3). Probiotics

Probiotics can reduce the severity and duration of the disease to a certain extent and significantly affect watery diarrhea caused by the virus.

(4). Oral zinc supplements

The World Health Organization points out that zinc supplements can reduce diarrhea's duration and severity and reduce the recurrence of diarrhea.

How to prevent the disease?

1. Rotavirus oral vaccine: Reducing the incidence rate and effectively preventing severe rotavirus enteritis in infants and children under 2 years old.

2. Promote early and exclusive breastfeeding.

3. Frequent hand washing: Rotavirus is relatively resistant to hand soaps and phenolic disinfectants, but it can be inactivated by high concentrations of ethanol (70 percent) or chlorine-free antibacterial agent.

4. Improvement of water supply facilities and environmental hygiene. Do not drink untreated water, and do not drink water from a well.

5. Visit crowded places as little as possible: Winter and autumn are the peak seasons for the disease; the disease is infectious, so do not make contact with patients who have diarrhea.

6. Do not share personal items such as towels, cups and utensils with others.