Recovery from antibiotic-induced digestive disorders

The article was professionally approved by Master, Doctor Dang Huy Toan - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital

Diarrhea in children taking antibiotics is a common side effect when treating bacterial infections with antibiotics, especially when taking antibiotics for a long time. So what should children take antibiotics with diarrhea to do to recover from digestive disorders for children?

Antibiotics are indicated in the treatment of diseases caused by bacteria, including oral antibiotics and parenteral antibiotics. However, the use of antibiotics can cause side effects, most commonly gastrointestinal upset, in which diarrhea is typical.
Children taking antibiotics have bowel movements with symptoms similar to bacterial infections:
Abdominal pain Repeated diarrhea Loose stools with mucus, stools are yellow, green, foamy, or lumpy Raw and mixed stools Loss of food water, electrolyte imbalance, weight loss due to prolonged diarrhea The cause of diarrhea in children taking antibiotics is because antibiotics have destroyed both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria in the body, especially especially the beneficial bacteria in the intestines and digestive system.
When the beneficial bacteria are destroyed, it will lead to an imbalance in the intestinal tract and cause digestive disorders, especially for young children, the digestive system is still incomplete.
However, most cases of diarrhea in children taking antibiotics are mild and usually resolve on their own when the child stops taking antibiotics. In other cases, children have more severe diarrhea and lead to pseudomembranous colitis syndrome.

When seeing that a child has diarrhea due to antibiotics but the treatment dose has not been completed, parents should not arbitrarily stop taking the drug because most cases of diarrhea are mild, the child is still normal and the diarrhea will go away on its own. when antibiotic treatment is discontinued. At this time, parents still need to pay attention and take good care of their children.
In the case of children taking antibiotics with diarrhea, severe diarrhea, parents should consult a doctor for advice on changing the appropriate antibiotic. Besides, attention should be paid to child care such as:
Rehydration and electrolytes for the child so as not to lose the acid-base balance in the body, otherwise it will lead to metabolic disorders. At this time, children should drink oresol solution to rehydrate and rehydrate. For children to drink milk, do not give up milk because it can cause nutritional deficiencies. When you see children taking antibiotics, they need to have enough nutrients, but they should limit spicy foods, some of which can cause indigestion and flatulence such as beans and seeds.

In order to recover from digestive disorders for children who take antibiotics and have a bowel movement, after the antibiotic treatment ends, parents can do the following:
Supplement with probiotics to regain balance by intestinal tract. Probiotics contain beneficial bacteria in the gut that both help prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Feeding children fermented foods containing beneficial bacteria such as yogurt, etc. To stimulate beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract to work and develop, to help stabilize digestion, parents should pay attention to supplementing with rich foods. fiber for children such as bananas, cereals, seeds, fruits, berries, ... Children who take antibiotics and have a bowel movement also have a serious loss of vitamin K-producing bacteria, so it's important to pay attention supplement foods rich in vitamin K for children such as spinach, kale, cabbage, ... Besides, parents should also note that, in all cases of children with diarrhea, before using antibiotics, they need to be taken. See a gastroenterologist for instructions on using specific medications. Do not self-medicate at home because if you use the wrong medicine, it will make the disease worse and more difficult to treat.
Currently, the Pediatrics Department - Vinmec International General Hospital always receives and treats common problems in infants and young children such as digestive, respiratory, nutritional disorders... The examination is always performed by a team of qualified doctors combined with modern medical equipment to bring the best recovery results to the patient.
Besides, early treatment with the right purpose helps children to stabilize their health soon and shorten the hospital stay. Therefore, parents need to pay close attention to the case of children taking antibiotics to have a bowel movement.