Infantile Diarrhea

Infantile Diarrhea is a common disease in pediatrics , characterized by disharmony of the spleen and stomach with frequent bowl movements , and loose or watery feces . Since the children's spleen and stomach are weak , this disease is easily caused by either invasion of exogenous pathogenic factors or internal injury of milk and food . It may occur in any season , but more frequently in summer and autumn .

Etiology and Pathogenesis

The weak spleen and stomach of children are apt to be injured by irregular diet , contaminated food , or improper attending . Dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in transportation and transformation leads to indigestion . The undigested food and water can not be separated but go together into the large intestine . This accounts for the Diarrhea . It says in Chapter 43 of Plain Questions , Over intake of milk and food will harm the intestines and the stomach . Therefore , internal damage by food is an important factor of Diarrhea . Since the zang - fu organs of infants are delicate , the attack of exogenous pathogenic factors can also give rise to impairment of transportation and transformation function of the spleen and stomach , and hence Diarrhea .

Differentiation

Main manifestations : Abdominal distension is accompanied by borborygmi and frequent fits of pain . The fit of pain is followed by bowel movements , and the pain will be relieved after defecation .

There are several times of defecation a day with sour and putrid feces . The Diarrhea caused by overfeeding is marked by presence of undigested milk and food in the fecal discharge , frequent eructation , anorexia , sticky tongue coating , rolling and full pulse . In Diarrhea caused by damp heat , there are loose stools with yellow color and offensive smell , abdominal pain , fever and thirst , burning sensation at the anus , scanty and dark urine , yellow and stick tongue coating , rolling and rapid pulse .

Analysis : Undigested milk or food accumulated in the intestines and the stomach causes abdominal distension with borborygmi and frequent attacks of pain with the desire of emptying the bowels . The pain is relieved after defecation as the food stagnation is somewhat removed . Stagnation of food leads to putrefaction , making the feces sour and putrid . The weakened spleen and stomach fail to digest food , hence there is undigested milk or food in the feces . The putrid turbidity may ascend , so there is frequent eructation . Dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in transportation and transformation gives rise to anorexia . The sticky tongue coating and rolling pulse are both the signs of food retention .

The pathogenic damp heat accumulated in the stomach and the intestines causes impairment of transportation . When the damp heat flows downward , there are loose stools with yellow color and offensive smell , and abdominal pain . Accumulation of damp heat in the stomach and intestines brings on fever and thirst . Burning sensation at the anus and scanty dark urine are also due to the downward flow of damp heat . Yellow sticky tongue coating and rolling rapid pulse are signs of damp heat .

Treatment

Method : Points of Foot Yangming Meridian arc mainly recommended with in - and - out puncturing to adjust the spleen and stomach , eliminate damp heat and stop Diarrhea .

Prescription : Tianshu ( S 25 ) , Shangjuxu ( S 37 ) , Sifeng ( Extra ) . Supplementary points : Diarrhea due to overfeeding : Jianii ( Ren II ) , Qihai ( Ren 6 ) .

Diarrhea due to damp heat : Quchi ( LI II ) , Hegu ( Li 4 ) , Yinlingquan ( Sp 9 ) .

Analysis : Tianshu ( S 25 ) is a point of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming , and also the Front - ( Mu ) Point of the large intestine , while Shangjuxu ( S 37 ) is the Lower He - ( Sea ) Point of the large intestine . The combination of these two points can regulate the intestines and check Diarrhea . Sifeng ( Extra ) can promote digestion to remove the stagnation , and strengthen transportation to stop Diarrhea . If the Diarrhea is due to overfeeding , Jianii ( Ren 11 ) and Qihai ( Ren 6 ) are combined in order to remove the stagnation of food , alleviate abdominal distension and fullness , and reinforce the spleen and stomach . If the Diarrhea is caused by damp heat , Quchi ( Li11 ) Hegu ( Li 4 ) are used to clear away the heat , and Yinlingquan ( Sp 9 ) to eliminate dampness and check Diarrhea .

Remarks

a ) Attention should be paid to severe Diarrhea which may lead to the critical condition of the damage of both yin and yang , collapse of qi and exhaustion of yin .

b ) The diet should be restricted and a light diet of small quantity is preferable .