Diarrhea -- What is it, How it is Treated? - Page 3

Beyond the reasons that have already been addressed, there are other reasons for diarrhea, and the most common reason is just being ill. When the normal morphology of the intestines is changes, i.e., as in a viral illness, or viral gastroenteritis, the result is typically a short-lived period of watery diarrhea. It is estimated, in fact, that at least 5 million children under the age of 2 die from this disease in underdeveloped countries each year. Rotavirus is probably the most common form of illness that can cause diarrhea in children and the most important issue at this point is hydration. Because of the way in which the virus works, i.e., it interrupts the normal absorption of water and electrolytes by destroying the cells that allow the gut to "do its job." Hence, the result is a large amount of "smelly" diarrhea and eventually, if not treated, dehydration. The younger children, particularly, should be hospitalized immediately if the Rotavirus is, in fact, detected by blood tests. During the viral infection the cells that are killed are sloughed off and become part of the diarrhea and while other cells are formed to replace them (called Crypt cells), these are often very immature, and they cannot possibly handle the same degree of absorption that is needed for the child's hydration. This is why it is very important for the child to be hospitalized and receive fluids and electrolytes via intravenous routes; any attempt to handle this problem at home can (or might) prove to be fatal to the child