Professional Documents
Culture Documents
4 Foodborneillnesses
4 Foodborneillnesses
RELATED ILLNESSES
Characteristics,
causes, and
treatments
SPITTING UP REFLUX
Spitting up is sometimes associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. If your babys stomach is
full or his position is changed abruptly, especially
after a feeding, the stomach contents- food mixed
with stomach acid- press against the valve at the top
of the stomach called the lower esophageal
sphincter. When it is not fully developed or it opens
at the wrong time, the stomach contents move back
or reflux into the esophagus. Reflux is mainly a
messy problem, not a serious one. Suggestions
include keeping the baby in an upright position up to
an hour after feeding.
Dietz, W. and Stern, L. (2012). Eds. Nutrition: What every parent needs to know. (2nd edition)
VOMITING
An isolated incident of vomiting is nothing to worry about
as long as the child is not unduly distressed and has no
other symptoms such as a stomachache, earache,
dizziness, diarrhea, or fever (a temperature above 100.4
F). If the babys occasional vomiting changes to forceful
vomiting of fairly large amounts after every feeding, or if
he is losing or failing to gain weight, or if the child vomits
persistently for an hour, vomits after a fall or head injury,
or has other symptoms, or if theres blood or greenish
bowel in the vomit, get help immediately.
Dietz, W. and Stern, L. (2012). Eds. Nutrition: What every parent needs to know. (2nd edition)
DIARRHEA
Children can have acute and chronic forms of diarrhea.
Causes include bacteria, viruses, parasites, medications,
functional bowel disorders, and food sensitivities. The
condition is defined as when infants or children have
excessive stool and where the output is changed from its
normal consistency.
Medications to treat diarrhea in adults can be dangerous for
children and should only be given with a doctors guidance.
The main treatment for diarrhea in children is rehydration to
replace lost fluid quickly. After this a normal diet can resume
only if there is no vomiting associated with the diarrhea.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
DIARRHEA
Each bowel consistency provides an indication as to
the cause of the diarrhea:
Watery diarrhea usually occurs as a result of
intolerance to sugar often lactose (found in cows
milk) or sorbitol ( found in non-citrus juices).
Mucousy stools can be caused by a viral or bacterial
infection.
Oily stools are a sign that fats are not being digested
properly.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
DIARRHEA
Acute diarrhea is usually related to a bacterial, viral, or parasitic
infection. Chronic diarrhea is usually related to functional disorders
such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease. A
few of the more common causes of diarrhea include:
Bacterial infections
Viral infections
Food intolerances
Parasites
Reaction to medicines
Intestinal diseases
Functional bowel disorders/ Irritable bowel syndrome
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
DIARRHEA
Diarrhea is especially dangerous in newborns and infants,
leading to dehydration in just a day or two. Signs of dehydration
in children are:
Dry or sticky mouth, dry, cool skin
Few or no tears when crying
Eyes that look sunken into the head
Soft spot on top of baby's head that looks sunken
Lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or
only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
Lack of or very small amount of dark yellow urine for 12 hours
in an older child
Lethargy, irritability, fatigue or dizziness in an older child
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
ROTAVIRUS
In the US, rotavirus accounts for about 20%of all cases of
childhood gastroenteritis. Rotavirus infection is linked to
approximately 100 childhood deaths from diarrhea each year.
Rotavirus is most active in the winter and spring October
May- though infection can occur at any time during the year.
Vaccines to protect against rotavirus are now available and
are given between 2 and 8 months of age.
Simple hygiene is the best defense against the illness.
Parents and others involved in childrens care must not only
wash their own hands but must continually teach children how
important it is to wash hands before handling food and after
using the toilet to curb the spread of this and other
sicknesses.
Dietz, W. and Stern, L. (2012). Eds. Nutrition: What every parent needs to know. (2nd edition)
APPENDICITIS
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. The
appendix is a small pouch attached to your large
intestine. It usually occurs when the appendix
becomes blocked by feces, a foreign object, or rarely,
a tumor.
It can be very hard to diagnose appendicitis in young
children. Typically, the first symptom is pain around
the belly button. The pain becomes increasingly
sharp and severe. The child may have reduced
appetite, nausea, vomiting, and a low grade fever.
It usually affects kids and teens after age 11.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
FOOD ALLERGY
Food allergy is a reaction of the bodys immune system to
something in a food or an ingredient in a food- usually a
protein. They are most prevalent in very young children and
frequently outgrown after childhood.
The eight most common food allergens are milk, eggs,
peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and crustacean shellfish.
Food allergies are characterized by itching or swelling of lips
or tongue, tightness of the throat with hoarseness,
gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea, occasional chest tightness, decreased blood
pressure, itching of the eyes, wheezing, skin irritations such
as rashes, hives and eczema, isolated sneezing and runny
nose.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
CHILDHOOD DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does
not make or properly use insulin, a hormone that is
needed to convert glucose (sugar) and other food into
energy. People with diabetes have increased blood
glucose (sugar) levels due to an absence of insulin or
failure to respond to insulins effects. Inadequate
insulin results in high concentrations of glucose that
build up in the blood and spill into the urine, causing
an forceful urination of sugar and the bodies lost of
its main source of fuel.
Dietz, W. and Stern, L. (2012). Eds. Nutrition: What every parent needs to know. (2nd edition)
CHILDHOOD DIABETES
Type I Diabetes: an autoimmune disease in which the immune
system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the
pancreas that regulate blood sugar. Onset can occur at any
age, but it most often occurs in children and young adults. A
diabetes management plan for young people includes insulin
therapy, monitoring of blood sugar, healthy eating and
physical activity.
Type II Diabetes: Type II diabetes usually develops slowly and
insidiously in children. Symptoms may be similar to those of
type I diabetes. A child or teen can feel very tired, thirsty, or
nauseated and have to urinate often. The cornerstone of
diabetes management for children with Type II is healthy
eating, with portion control, and increased physical activity.
Hybrid or mixed Diabetes: Some children have elements of
both kinds of diabetes given that more children are
overweight. Insulin injections and oral diabetic medication is
needed alongside healthy eating and physical activity.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
Lactose intolerance means that you cannot digest foods that
consists of lactose (sugar found in milk and foods made with
milk). If lactose is not digested, it can cause gas and stomach
cramps. After eating foods with lactose, you may have gas,
diarrhea, and swelling in your stomach.
The doctor will check for lactose intolerance by conducting blood
and breath tests and stool test.
If foods have lactose in it, words on the label will include: butter,
cheese, cream, dried milk, lactose, milk, milk solids, powdered
milk and whey. Lactose is in ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, cream,
butter, some cheeses, cottage cheese and yogurt. It is also added
to some boxed, canned, frozen foods, bread, cereal, lunch meats,
salad dressings, mixes for cakes, cookies, pancakes, and
biscuits, and frozen dinners.
If you are lactose intolerant, you may need to eat other foods
to get the calcium you need such as broccoli, tofu, turnips,
collards, sardines, or canned salmon with bones.
Childhood Diseases and Disorders Sourcebook. (2009). 2nd Edition.
Elbirt, P. Dr. Paulas Good Nutrition Guide for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. (2001).