Diarrhea and Food

    Written by:  Muhammad Nasir Serat

According to the report provided by the United Nation International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) about 9500 children under 5 years are dying due to diarrhea in Afghanistan yearly. It shows that at least 26 children lose their lives every day.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients' parents and physicians about this disease.

Obidullah, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says: “my child is suffering from diarrhea and he is vomiting. He faced dehydration as well. He could not eat anything and he is very weak.”

A Mother, Maryam says: “my four years old brother was suffering from diarrhea and he had gotten dehydrated too. We took him to the hospital, but unfortunately, he did not survive anymore.”

Doctor Abdul Hakim Mukhlis, an internist at Indira Gandhi Child Hospital, Kabul city says: “there are three types of diarrhea: mild, moderate and acute and each of them have their own signs and symptoms but acute diarrhea causes a child's weakness and malnutrition. The child would be uncomfortable and might be dehydrated. If the family does not pay attention to their child's health, the child might face serious health problems like kidney failure and in the result, the patient might die.”

What do people think about the causes of child diarrhea?

Fahim, a resident of Bagram district, Kabul province says: “drinking contaminated water and eating food with unclean hands cause diarrhea.”

Marwa, a resident of Kabul city says: “when a mother could not breastfeed her child and when she gives other foods, if the foods are contaminated, the child might suffer from diarrhea.”

Zarmina, a resident of Kunduz province says: “the cause of my child diarrhea might be eating contaminated foods outside the home with his brother and I could not always pay attention to his cleanliness.”

Doctor Mukhlis says: “the main causes of diarrhea are Rotavirus and some other bacteria. When a child eats or drinks contaminated food or water; the mother does not care about her child’s cleanliness; eating unclean fruits and vegetables cause child diarrhea.”

How do people treat child diarrhea at homes?

Farida, a resident of Takhar province says: “we prepare vegetable soup, cook soft rice, gives yogurt and fresh fruits for children who suffer from diarrhea.”

 A mother from Shiwaki village, Chaharasiab district, Kabul province says: “we give ORS solution; liquid foods; boiled rice water; boiled water and bananas. If these things do not affect, then we take the patient to a physician.”

Doctor Mukhlis says: “When a baby suffers from diarrhea, he/she should drink more liquids such as vegetable soup; soft cooked rice; boiled water; fresh fruits and any kind of edibles that a baby could eat. Use ORS solution regularly and avoid juices and cool drinks. If the baby has more than 16 stool per day, the disease is called acute and the patient should be taken to the clinic/hospital for essential treatment because dehydration during diarrhea is fatal.”