What counts as diarrhoea
Loose or watery stools 3 or more times a day, or more often than usual with a looser consistency. A breastfed baby can pass 6 soft stools a day and that is not diarrhoea; what matters is a change from the usual pattern.
The commonest causes in Indonesia are rotavirus and bacterial infection from food or water. The rotavirus vaccine in the IDAI schedule (2, 4 and 6 months) prevents the most severe form.
The two treatments WHO and the Ministry of Health recommend
- ORS (oral rehydration solution). It does not stop diarrhoea; it replaces the fluid and salts lost. Give small amounts often by spoon or cup: about 50 to 100 ml after each loose stool for children under 2, 100 to 200 ml for older children. Dissolve one sachet in 200 ml of boiled water as the packet directs.
- Zinc for a full 10 days even after the diarrhoea stops: 10 mg daily under 6 months, 20 mg from 6 months. Zinc shortens the episode and reduces recurrence over the next 3 months.
Breast milk and food continue, never fast a child. Over-the-counter anti-diarrhoeals and antibiotics without a prescription are not advised.
Signs of dehydration
Check every few hours: thirsty and restless, sunken eyes, dry mouth, few tears, infrequent or dark urine, and a pinched fold of belly skin that flattens slowly. If two or more of these are present the child needs supervised rehydration, go to the puskesmas or doctor the same day.
Go to emergency care immediately if
There is blood in the stool, vomiting prevents ORS from staying down, the child is very floppy or unresponsive, has a seizure, has a high fever under 3 months of age, or has not urinated for more than 6 hours.
Logging each dirty diaper (texture “runny”, colour) in the Catat tab lets you and the doctor see whether the frequency is improving day by day.
This article is general education and does not replace a doctor’s examination. When in doubt, consult a paediatrician.
