Flashcard · Acute Diarrhoea in Adults

What is the nutritional management of a child with acute diarrhoea?

Answer

Early re-feeding is essential: continue breastfeeding and an age-appropriate normal diet, and avoid unnecessary food restriction. Maintaining nutrition supports gut recovery and prevents malnutrition.

Clinical relevance. Continued feeding during diarrhoea maintains nutrition and speeds recovery, especially in children.

More Detail

Nutritional management in acute diarrhoea

Feeding should continue during diarrhoea, not be withheld, to support recovery and prevent malnutrition.

Key measures

Early re-feeding is essential - do not 'rest the gut'.
Continue breastfeeding in infants.
Give a normal, age-appropriate diet.
Avoid unnecessary food restriction (e.g. prolonged clear-fluids-only or dilute feeds).

Why it matters

Continued feeding maintains nutrition, supports enterocyte recovery, and reduces the risk of malnutrition, especially in young children who can deteriorate quickly.

Other

Zinc supplementation is recommended for young children with acute diarrhoea in many settings.