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Diet During Diarrhea

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MANAGING DIARRHEA AT HOME

Hydration and nutrition are critical during diarrhea episodes. This guide covers signs of dehydration, home remedies (ORS), and age-appropriate diet plans.

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IMPORTANT SIGNS TO MONITOR

Signs of Well-Maintained Hydration
  • Infant / child passes urine at least once every three hours each time in good quantity and which is not high-colored.
  • The tongue is moist, not dry.
  • Tears are seen when the baby cries.
  • Infant/child is reasonably active.
Signs of Well-Maintained Nutrition
  • The infant/child is able to consume at least 75% of what he/she normally consumes in a day.
  • The infant/child is able to maintain at least some degree of normal physical activity.

HOMEMADE REMEDIES & RECIPES

Homemade Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)

Ingredients:

  • 1 Liter (1000 ml) Water
  • 5 Teaspoons Sugar
  • 5 Pinches Salt

Instructions:And cover it and keep for use within 24 hours. Once it is cooled keep giving frequent sips throughout the day. Consumption of 1 liter is equivalent to two bottles of IV fluids given in the hospital.

DIET FOR INFANTS

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Infants Below 6 Months
  • Continue breastfeeds.
  • If on formula, consider giving a lactose-free formula.
  • Probiotics as advised.
Infants 7 to 12 Months
  • Continue solid feeds; reduce milk feeds and step up solids.
  • If on formula feeds consider giving a lactose-free formula.
  • Reduce milk feeds and step up solid feeds.
  • Feed more starchy foods – rice (with/without lentils), steamed and pureed potato, steamed and pureed sweet potato, homemade sweetcorn soup.
  • Oral rehydration solution (ORS) ad lib.
  • Probiotics.
  • Other cereals like semolina / sago / arrow-root can be given.
  • Apple juice, Pomegranate juice.
  • Yogurt (unsweetened, unflavored).
  • Homemade sweetcorn soup.
  • Cereals like semolina, sago, arrowroot.
  • Small amounts of egg, fish, and chicken allowed.
  • Probiotics as advised.
AVOID: Green leafy vegetables, oats, prunes, and sweet/sugary foods.
Rice Kanji / Gruel

Boil 3-4 large tablespoons of rice in 200-300 ml water with a pinch of salt (optionally add roasted cumin seeds). Blend to semi-liquid consistency and feed.

Saboodana (Sago) / Arrowroot Porridge

Soak sago overnight; drain. Cook 4 tbsp soaked sago (or 2 tbsp arrowroot powder) with 1 tsp jaggery/sugar, pinch of nutmeg, and 2 cups water over low flame until semi-transparent (no lumps). Cool and feed.

DIET FOR CHILDREN (>1 YEAR)

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Recommended Indian Foods
  • Rice kanji/gruel – boil 3-4 large tablespoons of rice in 200-300 ml water with a pinch of salt (and optionally some roasted cumin seeds) – blend to semiliquid consistency and feed.
  • Saboodana (Sago) porridge / arrow-root porridge: Soak saboodana / sago seeds in water overnight; drain away water next morning. To make one bowl of porridge, take 4 tablespoons soaked saboodana/sago seeds (or 2 tablespoons of arrow root powder) and add 1 tsp jaggery / sugar, 1-2 pinches of nutmeg powder, and 2 cups of water and cook over a low flame, stirring continuously to avoid lump formation. Once it is semi-transparent it is cooked; now cool and feed.
  • Rice-lentils gruel – khichdi.
  • Poha (puffed rice).
  • Idli, Dosa, Medhu wada etc.
  • Upma.
Recommended International Foods
  • White bread / toast with a little butter.
  • Semolina pancakes.
  • Rice.
  • Boiled and mashed potatoes with salt (or hash browns).
  • Sweet corn soup.
  • Yogurt, Buttermilk (laban).
  • Apple juice, Pomegranate juice.
  • Small amounts of eggs, fish, and chicken.
STRICTLY AVOID:
  • Red meat (veal, beef, mutton, etc.)
  • Shellfish (shrimps, clams, lobster, mussels, etc.)
Signs of well-maintained hydration
  • Infant / child passes urine at least once every three hours each time in good quantity and which is not high-colored.
  • The tongue is moist, not dry.
  • There are tears seen if / when the baby cries.
  • Infant / child is reasonably active.
Signs of well-maintained nutrition
  • The infant/child is able to consume at least 75% of what he/she normally consumes in a day.
  • The infant/child is able to maintain at least some degree of normal physical activity.
HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION (ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION or ORS) Boil together:
  • One liter (1000 ml) water.
  • Five teaspoons of sugar.
  • Five pinches of salt.
And cover it and keep for use within 24 hours. Once it is cooled keep giving frequent sips throughout the day.

When to Seek Help?

If your child shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, no urine for >6 hours) or is lethargic, please contact us immediately or visit the ER.

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