What medicines for a child if he is poisoned? What to give a child in case of poisoning - list of remedies

Our children are our joy and hope. All parents want their children not to get sick, but this is an elusive goal. Exploring the world, a child does not know that many dangers lurk around him. A sense of caution comes with age and experience. Poisoning in children is a fairly common occurrence, unfortunately. And adults need to know how to help a child in such cases.

How can a baby be poisoned?

Children, especially small ones, are inquisitive and are drawn to everything interesting. A bright jar, bottle or packaging can attract the baby’s attention. And the desire to look at an interesting object and even taste it is often irresistible for a little person. If the baby is left to his own devices, then he can get to a variety of things that are present in the house:

  • medicines;
  • cleaning and detergents;
  • solvents, gasoline, glue, varnishes, acid, alkali, paints, etc.;
  • houseplants.

Every apartment has this, a child may become interested in it and get seriously poisoned. If adults are busy with their own affairs, this may not be noticed.

Also, children are not afraid of unwashed hands and unwashed fruits, which can also cause poisoning.

The refrigerator stores foods that pose a potential threat to children's health, because... may turn out to be spoiled. Before giving your child food, you need to make sure that it is of good quality. Foods that most often cause food poisoning in children:

  • milk, dairy products, cottage cheese, ice cream;
  • eggs;
  • Fish and seafood;
  • salads;
  • sausages and meat products, pates, products with meat filling, etc.;
  • confectionery with cream;
  • mushrooms, vegetables, fruits;
  • canned food

It is difficult to list everything that can harm a growing child’s body. Any food that has been poorly stored or prepared incorrectly is food for pathogenic microorganisms. They enter the child’s body along with food and are activated there. During their life activity, they multiply in a nutrient medium and release toxins, which leads to intoxication of the body. Dangerous diseases caused by these microorganisms include botulism, salmonellosis, and staphylococcus. These diseases can cause significant harm to the health of children and cause serious complications.

Signs of poisoning

Due to their age, not all children can describe what exactly is the deterioration in their health. But attentive parents can notice signs of poisoning in children, especially since symptoms usually appear suddenly:

  • lack of appetite, nausea, sometimes vomiting;
  • pain in the abdomen (parents of even the smallest person will see that the child is worried about the tummy);
  • loose stools, sometimes with a pungent odor, mixed with blood or mucus, greenish in color;
  • the baby’s skin takes on an unhealthy pale color;
  • apathetic state;
  • chills, cold sweat, fever;
  • In case of poisoning with chemicals, as a rule, there is increased salivation, and you may notice redness or burns of the mucous membranes in the mouth.

Sometimes these signs increase, and the child may:

  • very high temperature (37.5°C and above);
  • due to dehydration of the body, the process of urination becomes rare, the amount of urine is small, and its color acquires a brownish tint;
  • decrease in pressure;
  • increased heart rate and breathing;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • convulsions.

These signs indicate that the body has become intoxicated and the child needs urgent help.

Important: similar symptoms can be observed in cases of meningitis, encephalitis, etc., therefore, only a doctor can finally identify the reasons for the deterioration of the child’s health and give an opinion after conducting clinical studies.

First aid

First, try to find out what caused the poisoning so as not to make mistakes when providing assistance. For example, if your baby is poisoned by gasoline, alkali or acid, do not try to induce vomiting - this can lead to a burn to the esophagus. You need to give him 1-2 glasses of water and call an ambulance.

Also, you should not rinse the stomach of children under 10 months of age and those who are unconscious. The child may choke on vomit. Gastric lavage here should be done by a physician using a special probe.

Prohibited:

  • give any medicine without a doctor’s recommendation (this applies to antibiotics, anti-diarrhea drugs, antipyretics, etc.);
  • feed and give the child water (except water);
  • add potassium permanganate to the water (children have delicate and sensitive mucous membranes, potassium permanganate can cause burns);
  • apply warm or cooling compresses to the abdomen.

In any case, if signs of poisoning appear, seek medical help. To alleviate the child’s condition before the doctor arrives, it is recommended:

  • Clear your stomach as much as possible. To do this, children are given warm boiled water to drink at the following rate: 10-12 months – 20 ml per 1 kg of baby’s weight, 2-6 years – 16 ml/kg, 7-14 years – 14 ml/kg. It is important to ensure that the child vomits. If vomiting does not occur naturally, induce it artificially (press on the root of the tongue with your fingers or a spoon). This procedure will help if the child was poisoned less than 2 hours ago. If this happened earlier, it is wise to use a cleansing enema with boiled water slightly below room temperature. We smear the tip of the enema with baby cream, place the child on his left side and carry out the procedure.
  • After cleansing the stomach (or intestines, if an enema was used), you can give the child a sorbent (activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel). Activated carbon should be given at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of child’s weight. It is better to crush the tablets. The sorbent will bind toxins in the gastrointestinal tract and remove them from the body, preventing them from being absorbed.
  • To prevent dehydration, children need to drink frequently. Offer your child 20 ml of water every 15 minutes. In addition to water, it is allowed to give rosehip decoction, weak sweet tea or a water-salt solution (for 1 liter of boiled water - 1 teaspoon of soda and salt). From pharmaceutical preparations, solutions of Regidron and Citragluxolan are suitable.
  • Monitor the temperature. If it rises, dry the child with a damp towel. If it rises above 38°C, take emergency measures and call an ambulance. Do not give antipyretic drugs internally. The only medicine for fever that is allowed without consulting a doctor is rectal suppositories (Cefekon, etc.).

Treatment and diet

A doctor prescribes complex treatment for poisoning a child, based on tests, research and dynamics. As a rule, for food poisoning, the treatment regimen, in addition to combating dehydration and taking sorbents, includes:

  • antimicrobials or antibiotics for certain indications;
  • means for restoring intestinal microflora and combating dysbiosis (Linex, Motilium, Smecta, etc.);
  • other medications depending on the child’s condition (for severe infections, in order to avoid complications, various medications and procedures are possible to maintain vital processes and organs).

Once the acute phase of the disease has passed, the body needs strength to recover. The correct approach to eating is important. You can eat often, but in small portions. Feed your small child his usual baby food. Older children need to eat:

  • low-fat broths;
  • light porridges (with water or milk with water, without butter);
  • dishes of boiled or stewed vegetables and fruits (soups, purees);
  • dairy products;
  • stale barn or crackers.

Gradually introduce pureed meat or fish into your diet.

It is prohibited to use:

  • carbonated drinks;
  • fruit juices;
  • raw vegetables and fruits;
  • fat;
  • fried;
  • large amounts of carbohydrates;
  • spices.

This diet should be provided to children for 2-3 weeks after poisoning. Do not forget to consult with your doctor about the possible prescription of vitamin and mineral complexes for your child. His weakened body after suffering from an illness needs support.

Prevention of poisoning in children

No one is immune from such troubles as food poisoning. However, if certain rules are followed, the risk can be significantly reduced. We must not forget that we are fully responsible for the life and health of our children. Do not neglect precautions:

  • Store chemicals and medications in places where children cannot reach them.
  • Keep an eye on your child and do not leave him unattended.
  • Pay attention to the child’s hygiene (washing hands after going outside, using the toilet, etc.).
  • Try to prepare food for your child yourself, follow sanitary standards and subject the products to thorough heat treatment.
  • Keep food fresh in the refrigerator.
  • Buy products for your child after you are sure of their composition and expiration date.
  • Do not feed your child ready-made salads, semi-finished products, or fast food from unverified outlets.
  • Be careful when giving your baby homemade pickles, canned food, etc.
  • If you suspect poisoning, take action. The faster you do this, the less risk there is.

Poisoning in children is a very unpleasant moment. In addition to childhood torment, it can have the most negative consequences in the future. Pay attention to the health of your children, be careful, do not neglect medical care and do not forget about your responsibility.


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In everyday life we ​​are surrounded by many chemical reagents that can become a source of poisoning in a child. But more often than not, we ourselves are the culprits of our children’s painful condition when we cannot refuse them a dubious-looking delicacy or we do not hide medications and chemicals far enough. Usually we deal with the problem on our own.

But there are some symptoms that, when poisoned in children, threaten health and even life. Let's look at all possible options for the course of the pathology. We’ll also figure out what you can do and what to give your child if he’s poisoned.

Body reaction and routes of exposure

  • Chemical substances, when swallowed, enter aerogenously or through mucous membranes and skin, enter the bloodstream and affect internal organs.
  • The situation is different with medications. Some medicines are either tasteless or even sweet. They have the effect for which they were created. And the child’s low weight and high dosage lead to an extreme degree of severity of the effect.

Food poisoning in children is associated with pathogenic microorganisms entering the gastrointestinal tract. Their endo- and exotoxins cause a violent reaction from the intestinal tube, and when absorbed - all other signs of intestinal infection.

  • Toxins from plant poisons are quickly absorbed and affect vital organs.

Sources

  • Household and automotive reagents, paints and varnishes, various “cides”, perfumes, household and carbon monoxide, combustion products.
  • Medicines and veterinary drugs.
  • Poisonous and conditionally poisonous mushrooms and plants (outdoor and indoor).
  • Expired and improperly stored food, products with synthetic additives.
  • Unwashed fruits or vegetables, dirty hands and toys.

Symptoms

Chemicals

Causes pronounced salivation. Depending on the composition, they can cause redness of the mucous membrane and pain in the mouth, lacrimation, cough, nausea and vomiting, neurological symptoms and mental disorders. The temperature in children with this poisoning does not change.

Medicines

Signs of drug poisoning in a child depend on the class of drug. There are medications with rapid (within 15-30 minutes) and delayed action. The first group is much more dangerous.

  • If we are talking about heart medications, the child may develop arrhythmia and change blood pressure.
  • Neurotropic drugs lead to lethargy and drowsiness, even sound sleep, or vice versa – to hyperexcitability.
  • Nasal drops cause weakness, pallor, cold sweat, and heart rhythm disturbances.
  • Cough syrup poisoning in a child manifests itself as toxic gastritis with vomiting and abdominal pain.
  • A large dose leads to sweating, a drop in temperature, drowsiness, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting.

Biological poisons

All of the above symptoms are possible with the addition of nerve conduction disturbances and hallucinations.

Food poisoning

Manifested by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. These are typical symptoms of poisoning in children and you can begin treatment yourself at home. They develop in a period of half an hour to two days. Typical symptoms may also be joined by dangerous symptoms, which you will learn about in the video.

Diagnostics

A correctly collected anamnesis plays an important role. It is important for doctors to know what the child was poisoned with, how much time passed after the poison entered the body before the onset of symptoms. Remember in what order and what symptoms appeared. You must provide a list of medications that you managed to give when the first signs of poisoning appeared in children. Also, be sure to leave food suspected of poisoning, samples of vomit and feces for examination.

In the hospital, medical staff also collect biological fluids for testing. In addition, using blood and urine tests, the state of water-salt metabolism, liver and kidney function is assessed.

Treatment

It is not worthwhile to independently treat poisoning in children - this is the domain of doctors. Moreover, there is no universal cure for poisoning for children. It all depends on the reason.

Chemical poisoning

  • When swallowing chemicals, doctors recommend calming the child, giving him a sorbent and laying him on his side. You should not rinse your stomach; this may worsen the situation. But sorbents in dosages for children in case of chemical poisoning will begin to inactivate toxins even before the doctor arrives.
  • If a child has inhaled toxins, he must be changed into clean clothes and provided with access to fresh air.
  • In case of contact with skin or mucous membranes, rinse these areas well with plenty of water and remove to clean air.

Other types of poisoning

You must take immediate action to remove toxins as quickly as possible.

Important! Children under 5 years of age are strictly prohibited from giving anything if they are poisoned. Their stomach is washed through a tube and this procedure should be entrusted to doctors. Lay him on his side and wait for the ambulance.

  • For children from the age of five, try to rinse the stomach using the tubeless method. For this, water at a temperature of 37-40°C is used. A weak solution of Polysorb will also have a good effect in case of such poisoning in a child. Later it is used in the form of a suspension and for therapeutic purposes.
  • After drinking liquid, induce vomiting in the child, irritating the uvula of the soft palate with clean fingers or a spoon. The “liquid-vomit” manipulation must be done 2-3-4 times.
  • Then give the sorbent. The most accessible remedy for poisoning for children and adults is activated carbon, which is even available in a car first aid kit. Enterosgel and Polyphepan are more effective. But the most successful remedy for poisoning in children is Smecta. This is a complex drug that neutralizes toxins and microbes and envelops the inner wall of the intestines, preventing them from entering the blood.
  • Now begin rehydration: give your child warm, clean water a few sips at a time. Liquid drunk in one gulp will return back along with vomiting.

Sometimes the severity of symptoms is a reason for hospitalization. In the hospital, nonspecific therapy is started, and when the cause is established, specific therapy is started. Nonspecific – consists of detoxification, rehydration and restoration of salt balance.

Specific therapy for poisoning in children consists of prescribing antidotes, antibiotics and antiviral agents. Preference is given to complex drugs. For example, in case of poisoning in a child, Enterofuril not only fights a variety of infections, but also has an antidiarrheal effect.

Video about food poisoning

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you in what cases you cannot do without the help of a doctor, and what needs to be done in case of food poisoning in a child. Clarifies the principles of their prevention. Focuses on diet in case of poisoning in children.

Prevention of non-food poisoning

  • Hide all chemicals away.
  • Keep your medications locked up.
  • Repair heating appliances and hoods.
  • Limit access to gas equipment and tell children about their dangers.
  • Teach your child the rules of behavior in case of fire.

A child can get poisoned anywhere and with anything. Follow all preventive measures and you will not encounter this pathology.

Do you have first aid supplies for poisoning in your home medicine cabinet? Do you take them on the road? Share with us in the comments.

Food poisoning in a child is not such a rare occurrence, this is due to the fact that children often put things into their mouths that they should not, and in addition, their body is weaker than that of an adult and is more susceptible to damage by harmful bacteria. It is important to comply. In order to avoid any complications, every parent should know how to provide first aid when a child is diagnosed with a toxic infection, and how to proceed further.

Features of toxic infection in children

Food poisoning is the ingestion of harmful bacteria contained in spoiled foods of plant, animal and chemical origin.

The process of development of poisoning can be divided into three stages:

Latency is the period that passes from the moment harmful bacteria enter the body until they begin to penetrate the walls of the stomach and intestines, thereby causing the first symptoms of food poisoning. This stage is the most favorable to provide first aid and try to prevent the development of the disease.

Toxigenic - the stage when the symptoms of poisoning begin to manifest themselves in full. When they are first detected, it is immediately necessary to provide the necessary treatment, in the form of gastric lavage, cleansing enemas, medication, and a special diet. If the stage of poisoning has gone too far, then in this case it is necessary to contact a medical institution for help.

Recovery - after ridding the body of harmful substances, it needs time to recover from the shock it has experienced.

Causes of childhood food poisoning

In order to avoid the appearance of symptoms and treatment of poisoning in a child, you must first know in what ways you can get sick:

  • Eating products who have expired or are subject to improper storage. In them, especially in dairy, harmful organisms begin to develop, which cause poisoning.
  • Eating foods that have not undergone the necessary processing, for example, meat or fish.
  • Eating mushrooms, plants or berries that are unsuitable for food.
  • Accidental ingestion of any chemical substances into the body with food.

Signs of food poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning in a child appear within a few hours after consuming the forbidden product:

  • First of all, restlessness begins in the digestive system, which after poisoning provokes frequent diarrhea or vomiting; there are cases of their simultaneous appearance. The stool may be mixed with mucus.
  • Painful sensations are felt in the abdomen, especially in the stomach area.
  • The general state of health worsens, weakness, drowsiness, and loss of appetite appear.
  • If vomiting and diarrhea occur frequently, dehydration may occur, which is expressed by sharper facial features and dry skin. In addition, convulsions may occur. You can read about what to do if a child is vomiting in the article:.

Depending on the type and degree of poisoning, the duration of the symptoms depends, which may pass in a couple of days, or may develop serious health complications, including death.

First aid

What to do if a child is poisoned at home, immediately after it is detected:

  • First, you need to provide constant drinking in order to avoid dehydration in case of poisoning. This should be clean, boiled water at room temperature. Children over 5 years old can be given decoctions of chamomile, rose hips or tea.
  • Next, you need to give sorbents, this can be activated carbon, which absorbs harmful substances and calmly removes them from the body. However, taking sorbents is prohibited if there is gastric bleeding or intestinal obstruction.
  • It is also necessary to carefully monitor your diet during this period. On the first day, it is better to refrain from eating. The next day, you can start giving crackers, porridge with water, light broths, teas, medicinal decoctions or plain water. It is better to stick to this diet for several days, carefully returning to the previous one, excluding, accordingly, foods that can cause poisoning.

It should be remembered that during the treatment of poisoning, it is better not to resort to those medications and products that can harden the stool. It is better if all harmful substances leave the body naturally, because this is why the protective function in the form of diarrhea or nausea is activated.

Medicines to treat food poisoning in children

To speed up the treatment process for food poisoning in children, you can take special medications.

Medicines

Currently, many medications have been created aimed at getting rid of the symptoms of poisoning, as well as restoring the body, which are also suitable for children, for example:

  • Regidron - suitable for getting rid of diarrhea and vomiting, is available in the form of a powder, which must be diluted in warm, clean water and the child given this solution to drink throughout the day.
  • Smecta is also available in powder form, which must be drunk several times a day for 3–7 days, depending on the severity of the poisoning.
  • Lactofiltrum - available in tablets, restores intestinal health.

The main thing to remember is that any medicine has its contraindications for use and age restrictions, so before use you must carefully read the instructions, which also indicate the method of use and dosage.

Sorbents

Sorbents are medicines that are taken during the provision of surgical assistance, before the arrival of doctors or before the provision of basic treatment. They are able to absorb all harmful bacteria and remove them from the body.

In addition to coal, there are a number of other sorbents, for example, Enterosgel - paste for oral administration, Sorbex, Atoxil. The main thing when purchasing medications is to also pay attention to the expiration date of the drug.

Probiotics

Probiotics are drugs that contain one or more beneficial bacteria, which, after entering the body, remain in it and begin to conduct useful life activities, fighting harmful organisms.

Probiotics include drugs such as acylact, lactobacterin, biobacton, probifor.

Antibiotics

Taking antibiotics when treating food poisoning in a child at home is excluded. Such medications can only be prescribed by the attending physician if the disease has reached a serious stage of complications, and after weighing the pros and cons, it was decided that the harm caused to the child’s body will be lower than the developing complications.

Drugs are prescribed based on the individual characteristics of the patient, this can be: ersefuril, phthalazole, cefix.

The use of enemas for food poisoning

Sometimes, it becomes necessary to rinse not only the stomach, but also the intestines in order to get rid of the toxins located there. To do this, you can resort to an enema.

The essence of an enema is that a special solution is injected into the intestines using a special device. This solution lingers in the body for a short time, and then, leaving it, washes away all the decay products inside. In order to give an enema to children, you need to seek the help of a person experienced in these matters, as damage can be caused.

To properly administer an enema, you need to follow a certain algorithm:

  • A rubber bulb of suitable size (check with the pharmacy) must be boiled in clean water for half an hour for disinfection.
  • Hands should be washed thoroughly; you can wear medical gloves.
  • The child is placed in the correct position, if it is a newborn, then on his back, having first placed a diaper or diaper under him. If we are talking about an adult child, then he should lie on his side, pulling his legs to his chest.
  • You need to fill the pear with warm, clean water or a prepared solution.
  • The enema tip must be lubricated with special Vaseline.
  • Having pulled the baby's legs towards the stomach, you need to carefully insert the tip into the anus 3-4 cm. First, you need to release the air from the bulb by pressing on it. As for adult children, the procedure is carried out in the same way, only they bent their legs on their own.
  • The contents of the enema should be administered while the child inhales, slowly pressing it.

It is necessary for the child to be patient and then go to the toilet or potty. If we are talking about a baby, then you need to squeeze the buttocks so that the liquid does not come out immediately, since he does not yet know how to endure it on his own.

If the emptying went well, the procedure is repeated. After this, the child is washed and dressed in clean linen.

Traditional methods of treating food poisoning in children

When treating food poisoning in a child, you can use proven folk recipes:

  • You can get rid of nausea in case of poisoning with ginger tea. To do this, you just need to pour boiling water over ginger, and then brew tea in this water.
  • In addition, you can give your child decoctions of chamomile, dill, rose hips or wormwood.
  • Honey is a good antibacterial agent; it can be given pure or diluted in water or tea.
  • You can give children a decoction of oat flakes. To do this, you need to boil them in a large amount of water, then strain the resulting mixture. The same principle is used to prepare.
  • Ginger helps a lot. A teaspoon of a young plant is poured with boiling water and infused for up to 5 minutes. The resulting infusion should be drunk every hour, 1 teaspoon.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

Self-medication is not always a good idea; in some cases it is still better to seek help from a specialist:

  • if poisoning occurs in a newborn, then you must call a doctor, since at this time he should always be under the supervision of an experienced medical professional. personnel;
  • poisoning occurred due to the consumption of mushrooms, or poisonous berries, as well as chemicals;
  • vomiting in case of poisoning continues for several hours;
  • a certain amount of blood was found in the vomit or stool;
  • well-being after poisoning does not improve the next day or every other day;
  • Symptoms of poisoning such as nausea and diarrhea also do not go away for more than three days.

Prevention

In order to avoid food poisoning in children, parents just need to follow simple rules:

  • Handle food correctly, do not leave meat or fish undercooked or undercooked.
  • Always check the expiration dates of products given to your child, and also follow the rules for storing them.
  • Teach from childhood which berries you can eat and which you can’t. It will be better if he first brings them for inspection. If there are doubts about the quality and type of mushrooms, then children should not be given them at all.
  • Accustom your child to personal hygiene.

The health of children directly depends on the attitude of their parents and how responsibly they approach what they eat. And also, if the rules of cleanliness are instilled in children from an early age and their horizons about plants are broadened, then they themselves will also be able to avoid an unpleasant situation.

The cause of poisoning is the consumption of poor quality foods. Moreover, the food eaten by the baby, as a rule, does not have any visible signs of poor quality and does not differ at all in smell or taste from safe products. The occurrence of food poisoning is caused not only by pathogenic microorganisms that enter the body with food, but also by their waste products - toxins.

Particularly favorable conditions for the proliferation of microbes are created in meat, fish, cottage cheese, and milk. Danger is also posed by those foods that are eaten without washing and heat treatment - butter, hard cheeses. In addition, the cause of poisoning is often a weakening of control over personal hygiene, in particular, washing hands after visiting the toilet, before eating, after a walk, etc.

As a rule, food poisoning has a sudden onset and an acute course. On average, from ingestion of contaminated food to the appearance of the first signs of illness, it takes from 2 to 8 hours.

Characteristic signs of poisoning are nausea, vomiting, often repeated, abdominal pain (usually in the stomach area), rapid heartbeat, loose stools, often mixed with mucus or streaked with blood. The baby’s general condition also suffers: weakness, headache and muscle pain appear, and body temperature may rise to 39°C. The child may become lethargic, inactive, and refuse to eat.

Food poisoning: emergency care

If no more than 2 hours have passed after eating the food that caused the poisoning, the child must undergo gastric lavage. At home, most often the baby is given a certain amount of water to drink, and then vomiting is induced by irritating the root of the tongue with a teaspoon. The amount of water should be at least 125 ml (half a glass) for each year of the child’s life. You can also use this calculation method: give a one-year-old child 20 ml of water per 1 kg of weight, and 16 ml per 1 kg for children 2–3 years of age.

After taking the liquid, gently pressing the spoon on the root of the tongue, induce vomiting in the baby. Rinsing is carried out by 2-3 times the introduction of a single dose of water. Instead of plain water, you can use a solution of baking soda (1 teaspoon of soda per 250 ml of water) or a weak pale pink solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure helps remove food debris from the stomach, along with germs or toxins that caused the disease.

If more than 2 hours have passed after eating, the causative products have already moved into the intestines, and to remove them from the body, the baby needs to undergo a cleansing enema. The water temperature should be no higher than 25°C, its volume depends on the age of the child: for children 1–2 years old, 200 ml is enough, for 2–3 years old, 300 ml. An enema can be done using a rubber bulb, after lubricating its tip with Vaseline or sterile vegetable oil to prevent trauma to the anus. The tip must be inserted into the rectum to a depth of 3–5 cm.

Food poisoning: how to deal with toxins?

Activated carbon

After gastric lavage and/or cleansing enema, observing age-specific dosages, give the child enterosorbents. These drugs bind harmful substances found in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing them from entering the blood.

Activated carbon remains an effective sorbent that can absorb many toxins and prevent their absorption. It is produced in the form of a black powder, insoluble in water, and in the form of CARBOLEN tablets.

Activated carbon binds in the gastrointestinal tract not only harmful, but also many substances beneficial to the body: enzymes, vitamins, amino acids. Therefore, at present, it is mainly used during emergency care for gastric lavage, regardless of how it is carried out: using a tube or inducing vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue after taking liquid. For this purpose, a suspension is used: 1 tablespoon of powder is stirred in 1 liter of water heated to 25–30°C.

The drug ENTEROSORBENT, the basis of which is activated carbon, has high surface activity and high sorption capacity in relation to microorganisms and their metabolic products. Digestive disorders (dyspepsia) and food intoxication are included in the list of indications for its use. ENTEROSORBENT is produced in 10 g bags.

The drug is prescribed to children from infancy to 3 years at a dose of 0.05 g per 1 kg of child’s body weight per day in 3-4 doses for a period of 3 to 15 days, depending on the severity of the disease.

ENTEROSORBENT is not without side effects: it leads to depletion of the body in vitamins, hormones, fats, proteins, which, together with harmful substances, are bound by the drug.
Activated carbon is also the basis of the drugs CARBACTIN, MICROSORB, ULTRA-ADSORB. They also have an enterosorbing, detoxifying and antidiarrheal effect. These drugs are used orally in the form of an aqueous suspension or in tablets in a daily dose of 0.5–
1 g per 1 kg of body weight in 3-4 doses for 2-3 days. The suspension is prepared as follows: the calculated dose of the drug, depending on the weight of the baby, is stirred in 100-150 ml of water heated to no more than 30 ° C - ordinary or mineral without gas and the baby is given to drink from a bottle or from a mug using a spoon, and If the baby drinks on his own, then from a sippy cup or cup.

ENTEROSGEL

One of the most effective and safe enterosorbents is ENTEROSGEL - a drug based on organic silicon, designed to remove toxic substances from the body, restore the epithelium of the mucous membranes and other body tissues.

As research results have shown, harmful microflora and toxic substances are captured by the surface of ENTEROSGEL and are destroyed, remaining on it, while beneficial microorganisms - lactobacilli, bifidobacteria - are not affected in any way, which helps restore the damaged mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Practice has shown that ENTEROSGEL, taken in the very first minutes after poisoning, very quickly absorbs bacteria and toxins dangerous to health, firmly holds them, passing through the entire gastrointestinal tract, and completely removes them with feces.

ENTEROSGEL for oral administration is used in the form of an aqueous suspension. To obtain a suspension, the required amount of the drug is thoroughly ground in ¼ glass of water and taken with water.
The drug is also available in the form of a paste. ENTEROSGEL-PASTA is a dosage form of this drug that is more convenient to use. The finely dispersed form of ENTEROSGEL-PASTE significantly increases sorption activity, and hence efficiency, compared to gel. It is taken orally with at least 50 ml of water. Dosage for children aged 1–3 years: 1 teaspoon (5 g) 3 times a day – (15 g).

In case of severe intoxication, the dose of the drug can be doubled during the first three days. On average, the duration of taking ENTEROSGEL for food poisoning does not exceed 7 days. No side effects were observed when using the drug, and contraindications include only intestinal obstruction.

POLYSORB

Created on the basis of natural highly dispersed silica, POLYSORB is not only one of the most effective enterosorbents, but also has a positive effect on the body as a whole. This is a drug that removes toxins, food and bacterial allergens, and microbial toxins. It is used in children over 1 year of age to treat poisoning and acute intestinal diseases that are accompanied by diarrhea.

POLYSORB is taken orally in the form of a suspension. To prepare the suspension, add 1 teaspoon (0.6 g) of powder to a glass of still water or cold boiled water and mix thoroughly.

For children from 1 to 3 years of age, the dose is 150–200 mg (0.1–0.2 g) per 1 kg of body weight. The daily dose is divided into 3-4 doses. The maximum single dose of the drug should not exceed half the daily dose. For acute intestinal diseases, the course of treatment is 3–5 days; if necessary, it can be extended to 10–15 days.

Among the side effects, individual intolerance to the drug is rare. In such cases, POLYSORB is canceled. The drug is not prescribed to children under 1 year of age. POLYSORB has no contraindications; the development of adverse reactions and manifestations of hypersensitivity when taking it has not been recorded.

MINEROL

MINEROL is a natural complex of minerals balanced by nature, containing almost all the macro- and microelements necessary for the human body.

It is very important that it belongs to the sorbents of metabolic action: by adsorbing toxins in the intestinal lumen, MINEROL releases useful macro- and microelements into the body, which contribute to the rapid and effective restoration of the function of the gastrointestinal tract in case of food poisoning.

The contents of one sachet are dissolved in 100–150 ml of warm or hot water, mixed evenly, and left to settle for 3–5 seconds. The supernatant liquid is taken. For food poisoning in children from birth to 3 years, 1 sachet is sufficient; the supernatant should be divided into 3 doses. The interval between doses is 30 minutes. Like all other medications, MINEROL is taken until fluid loss stops. The drug is absolutely harmless, has no side effects or contraindications, and is approved for use in children of any age.

MULTISORB

The detoxification and sorption properties of MULTISORB are associated with the presence in its composition of activated biopolymers that interact with elements of the intestinal contents.
The insoluble components cellulose and lignin exhibit a pronounced sorption effect against a number of toxins.

MULTISORB not only affects the cause of intestinal infection by performing enterosorption, but also provides an additional symptomatic effect - binding water and stopping diarrhea.
The daily dose of the drug for children from 1 year to 5 years is the same and is half the contents of the sachet
(1.5 g) 1-3 times a day. The duration of use is on average 3 days. Side effects can sometimes include bloating - flatulence or a slight increase in diarrhea, which does not require discontinuation of the drug. Contraindication for use in children is acute pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas.

SMEKTA

This is a drug of natural origin that removes harmful substances from the body, providing an adsorbing and enveloping effect: SMEKTA stabilizes the mucous barrier, increases the amount of mucus, improves its gastroprotective properties in terms of the negative effects of hydrochloric acid, microorganisms and their toxins. The drug has a pleasant taste and is well tolerated by children.
SMEKTA is available in powder form for the preparation of a suspension in 3 g bags.
The drug is used in children from birth in the following dosage:

  • children under 1 year – 1 sachet per day;
  • from 1 to 2 years – 2 sachets per day;
  • over 2 years old – 2–3 sachets per day.

Before use, gradually pour the contents of the sachet into 50–100 ml of liquid, stirring evenly. The drug should be taken at least 3 times a day and for at least 3 days (the course of treatment ranges from 3 to 7 days). Side effects when using SMEKTA are quite rare.
The most common of these include constipation, which disappears when the dose of the drug is reduced, as well as increased body temperature and vomiting.

If the use of SMEKTA provokes fever and vomiting, then its use should be discontinued. The drug is contraindicated for intestinal obstruction.

LACTOFILTRUM

The drug belongs to sorbents of plant origin, helps strengthen the immune system. Like all sorbents, it is characterized by the ability to bind and retain various compounds on its surface, including toxins and pathogenic microbes. The drug is non-toxic, is not absorbed into the general bloodstream, is completely eliminated from the intestines within 24 hours and does not disrupt the function of the gastrointestinal tract.

LACTOFILTRUM tablets are taken orally with water; preliminary crushing of the tablet is allowed.

LACTOFILTRUM is recommended for children 1–3 years old 3 times a day.
½ tablet until diarrhea stops. Taking the drug as a component of complex treatment can be continued for up to 2 weeks. When using the medicine, in rare cases, it is possible to develop allergic reactions to its components. The administration of LACTOFILTRUM to children with intestinal obstruction and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract is contraindicated.

Food Poisoning: Stay Hydrated

Since with vomiting and diarrhea the child loses a large amount of fluid, and with it microelements, dehydration can very quickly develop, which poses a threat to the baby’s life. The main signs of dehydration are cold, dry and pale skin, dry tongue, rapid pulse, sunken eyes, indifference to the environment, and in young children - retraction of the large fontanel. In this regard, great importance is given to restoring the water and electrolyte balance in the child’s body – rehydration.

In most cases, it is sufficient to carry out so-called oral rehydration - administering liquid to the baby through the mouth. Any liquid is given with a teaspoon. Children under 1 year old should be given 1 teaspoon (5 ml), from 1 year to 3 years old - 2 teaspoons (10 ml) every 5-10 minutes. You should not give your baby a lot of liquid at one time, as this may provoke or increase vomiting.

REGYDRON

Of the industrial preparations for normalizing water-electrolyte balance, the most common is REHYDRON, which contains sodium and potassium chloride, sodium citrate and glucose.

The contents of the bag are dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water and the solution is allowed to cool. This solution is given to the child after each loose stool. It must be mixed thoroughly before taking. REHYDRON is used at the onset of the disease at the rate of 10 ml per 1 kg of body weight per hour, and as vomiting and diarrhea subside - 5 ml per 1 kg of body weight per hour.

In case of vomiting and diarrhea, it is necessary to start treatment with REHYDRON as soon as possible and continue taking the drug until the diarrhea stops. No other components should be added to the solution, otherwise the effect of the drug may be impaired.

If the specified dosage is followed, side effects do not occur when using the drug.

GLUCOSOLAN

Restores the water-electrolyte balance disturbed by dehydration of the body and GLUCOSOLAN, consisting of two sachets, one of which contains glucose, and the second a salt mixture.

Before use, the contents of the sachets are dissolved in 1 liter of boiled water. The drug is used for newborns and young children at the rate of 10–15 ml per 1 kg of body weight per day.

This drug is also available in tablet form. One dose consists of 4 tablets of GLUCOSE and 1 tablet of SOLAN. Before use, these tablets are dissolved in 100 ml of water.

The duration of use of the drug is determined by a decrease in signs of dehydration, on average it is 6–7 hours. Side effects include rare cases of nausea. There are no contraindications for use in children.

HUMANA ELECTROLYTE

The drug is a balanced mixture of carbohydrates and minerals in the form of a powder, easily soluble in water. For food poisoning, HUMANA ELECTROLYTE with banana pectin is used, the dietary fiber of which can bind and remove toxins from the body.
HUMANA ELECTROLYTE belongs to the first aid means, and its use in the first hours of the disease allows you to quickly cope with the symptoms of dehydration and significantly improve the general condition of the child. Good taste makes it easier to use the drug in young children.

From birth you can use a mixture of HUMANA ELECTROLYTE with fennel, and from the age of 3 with a banana.

The contents of 1 sachet are dissolved in 250 ml of warm boiled water. The ready-to-use solution can be drunk warm or cold.

The prepared solution should not be sweetened or added salt. Dosage for children under 3 years of age: 50–150 ml per 1 kg of weight. The drug is used until the diarrhea stops. The volume of solution administered during this period should correspond to the volume of fluid lost by the body. An important subjective indicator of the required amount of medicinal solution is thirst. It has no contraindications or side effects.

With severe loss of fluid with watery stools, glucose-saline and salt-free solutions are taken in equal parts (1:1), with the predominance of vomiting, the part of glucose-saline solutions increases (2:1), and with the main loss of fluid with loose stools and elevated temperature, it increases proportion of salt-free solutions (1:2).

Be careful!

It is important for parents to know that:

  • the use of sorbents is contraindicated in case of intestinal obstruction and gastrointestinal bleeding;
  • when taking enterosorbents and other medications simultaneously, sorbents reduce their effectiveness, and therefore it is recommended to maintain an interval between doses of at least 1 hour;
  • In case of uncontrollable vomiting, severe general condition of the child and severe dehydration, oral rehydration cannot be performed, since it is ineffective in these cases. We must try to deliver the child to the hospital as quickly as possible, where infusion (intravenous) therapy with the necessary solutions will be carried out;
  • Most enterosorbents, such as activated carbon and other inorganic compounds, can cause constipation. Toxins bound by the sorbent, remaining in the intestines, will be absorbed into the blood and cause intoxication;
  • antibacterial drugs for food poisoning, intoxication and toxic infections are rarely prescribed;
  • If, as a result of home treatment, there is no rapid improvement in the baby’s condition, if the disease becomes protracted, and mucus or blood impurities appear in the stool, it is necessary to urgently consult a pediatrician who will prescribe adequate treatment.

Children are more likely to develop food poisoning. Their treatment must be taken seriously. Self-medication can be dangerous to the health of babies; all medications must be prescribed by a doctor. In this article, we looked at what to give a child in case of poisoning at the stage of providing first aid, cases in which you should urgently seek medical treatment.

Features of the child's body

Poisoning in a child is more severe than in an adult. This is explained by the peculiarities of the development and structure of the child’s body. Below are the main factors that contribute to the occurrence of poisoning in children.

  • Full production of saliva appears only at one year of age. Until this time, the baby is not protected by lysozyme, a protein that neutralizes some bacteria and protects against infections.
  • Insufficient development of the immune system, which is necessary to protect the body from pathogenic microorganisms. Only at 3 years old does the child’s immunity begin to fully function.
  • Intestinal microflora provides local immunity and protects against some intestinal infections. A baby is born with a sterile intestine, which fills with beneficial and essential bacteria during the first year of life. Already at 2 years old, children's intestinal microflora does not differ from adults.
  • The acidity of gastric juice in children is lower, as a result of which the stomach is not fully protected from intestinal viruses and bacteria.

What are the most common causes of childhood poisoning?

There are many factors and reasons that can lead to poisoning in a child. It is worth noting that parental inattention and insufficient child supervision are the main causes of childhood poisoning. Left unattended medications, detergents, expired food - all this is dangerous for the baby.

The main causes of poisoning in children:

  • Eating expired and improperly prepared food leads to foodborne illness. The child may become infected with salmonellosis, dysentery or E. coli;
  • the child taking medications or chemicals found at home. The baby wants to taste everything he sees around him. He mistakes brightly colored tablets for candy, and floor cleaner for a sweet drink;
  • mushroom poisoning. According to the dietary recommendations of pediatricians, mushrooms are prohibited for children under 12 years of age. But many parents begin to feed their offspring with them from an early age. The child's digestive system cannot digest mushroom proteins. A baby can be poisoned even by edible high-quality mushrooms;
  • the child’s failure to comply with basic personal hygiene. Through dirty hands he can become infected with an intestinal infection.

Who treats childhood poisonings?

Treatment of a poisoned child must be carried out by doctors. When the first signs of poisoning appear, you should call an ambulance or take the baby to the hospital yourself.

Remember that treating a child on your own is dangerous and pointless. In children, poisoning is accompanied by severe intoxication and dehydration. Such conditions are treated exclusively by doctors.

You can provide your baby with first aid, which will help his condition improve slightly. It should begin immediately when the disease develops.

Basics of first aid for childhood poisoning

What to give to a child in case of poisoning and vomiting before the ambulance arrives? Please note that at this stage it is very important not to harm the baby with your attempts to save him. Below is a description of what medications you can give your baby in case of food poisoning and how to help your child while waiting for doctors.

Rest and routine

Provide your baby with peace. Don’t panic, and especially don’t scold him if he is to blame for the development of the disease. Put the child in bed, open a window in the room to get fresh air.

Don't try to feed the baby. Dietary food will be prescribed by the doctor after first aid.

Gastric lavage

Cleansing the stomach will help remove the remains of poor-quality food, bacteria and toxins from it. With its help, you can prevent the deterioration of the patient's condition.

If your child is over 5 years old, perform a self-gastric lavage. To do this, let him drink several glasses of plain water in one gulp and try to provoke him to vomit.

Remember that rinsing the stomach is prohibited in case of poisoning with acids, alkalis, or when bloody vomiting occurs.

Enema

Cleansing the intestines will help remove pathogenic microorganisms and toxins from it and reduce intoxication. The enema should be done using plain boiled water. Its temperature should be room temperature. The enema is done with clean intestinal rinses. Adding any medications or herbal decoctions to an enema is prohibited at home.

Sorbents

Sorbents are medications that can be taken before doctors arrive. Their dosage can be calculated according to the weight or age of the child. For example, a 4-year-old child weighs about 20 kg. 1 tablet of Activated Carbon is designed for 10 kg, and a baby weighing 20 kg should be given two tablets.

Please note that the dosage of sorbents with different names differs from each other. Before giving them to your baby, read the instructions carefully. It is also necessary to check the expiration date of medications. Expired tablets can lead to poisoning.

List of sorbent names:

  • Activated carbon;
  • enterosgel;
  • sorbex;
  • smecta;
  • atoxyl.

Drink plenty of fluids

What can a poisoned child drink? Before the doctors arrive, you can give your child mineral or alkaline water without gases. Hot and cold drinks are contraindicated.

What to do if a child drinks acid or alkali

In case of such poisoning, you should not rinse the stomach or induce vomiting in the baby. Gastric lavage is performed by doctors through a tube. This is the only way to safely get rid of the chemical without causing repeated burns to the mucous membrane of the esophagus and oral cavity.

Before the doctors arrive, give your baby some plain water to drink, put him in bed and put ice on his stomach.

Remember that you should not try to neutralize the contents of the stomach. Many people believe that if you are poisoned by acid, you just need to drink alkali. During the neutralization reaction, a large amount of gases are formed that can rupture the stomach from the inside.

Medical treatment

Doctors, upon arriving at a call, will examine the sick child, collect anamnesis and begin providing first aid. It consists of:

  • gastric lavage through a tube (if there are contraindications to regular gastric cleansing);
  • connecting a dropper with solutions to eliminate dehydration and reduce intoxication;
  • if gastrointestinal bleeding develops, drugs are administered to stop it;
  • administration of antiemetic drugs (osetron, cerucal) helps relieve vomiting.

A poisoned child may be hospitalized in an infectious disease, intensive care, or toxicology department. It depends on the substance with which the baby was poisoned.

Treatment in a hospital begins in the first minutes of hospitalization. It consists of:

  • administration of antidotes (if they exist for the substance that poisoned the patient);
  • hemodialysis - blood purification. It is carried out in case of poisoning with drugs, mushrooms;
  • antibiotic therapy, which is indicated for intestinal infections;
  • copious IV drips to treat dehydration;
  • enzymes - drugs that improve digestion;
  • antispasmodics, which are used to relieve abdominal pain;
  • dietary nutrition.

The duration of treatment in a hospital depends on the condition of the child, the etiology of poisoning and the timeliness of seeking medical help.

Prevention of childhood poisoning

Childhood poisoning is much easier to prevent than to treat. This is not difficult to do. Below we have put together recommendations for you that will help you protect your child from this disease.

  • Buy food only from official markets or certified stores. You cannot be sure of the quality of food purchased at spontaneous markets or secondhand.
  • Always check the manufacturing date when purchasing products, inspect their appearance and the integrity of the packaging.
  • Teach your child to wash his hands before each meal and after returning from the street. Make sure he doesn't lick his hands or bite his nails.
  • Try not to buy semi-finished or ready-made meals. The healthiest and safest food is the one you prepare yourself from fresh ingredients with clean hands.
  • Do not give children mushrooms, smoked meats, canned food, or sausages. These products are not intended for baby food.
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly and use baking soda to clean dishes.
  • Hide all medicines and household chemicals from children.

Self-medication of childhood poisoning is very dangerous. As soon as the first signs of this disease appear, you should seek medical help. Before the doctors arrive, you can perform a gastric lavage, do an enema, and give your baby sorbents and drinks. Further treatment is carried out by emergency and hospital doctors. Its volume and duration depend on the toxic substance and the patient’s condition.