The use of Smecta for diarrhea in a child

Diarrhea is a frequent occurrence in children from the first days of life. The causes of loose stools can be different, and often there is no time to find out: it is important to quickly give the child an effective and safe drug to stop diarrhea. Such a means is "Smecta».

• "Smecta" in the form of powder for suspension with flavors of vanilla and orange, available in 10 or 30 bags per pack. Each bag contains 3 g of powder. The powder has a dense uniform consistency and a grayish color, resembles flour. After the addition of water, it turns into a suspension - an aqueous solution with fine particles suspended in it.

• Also "Smekta" is made in the form of sachets with ready suspension with cocoa caramel flavor. The finished suspension is sold in packs of 12 sachets.

The active component "Smekty" - dioctahedral smectite. This is a natural natural substance that contains compounds of aluminum and magnesium. Get smectite from special grades of medical clay.

Powder for the preparation of suspensions also contains auxiliary components. This sweetener is sodium saccharinate, as well as dextrose monohydrate, another natural substance derived from starch. Its function is to compensate for the lack of glucose in the body, it is also used in the food industry. Flavoring is also added to the powder.

Dioctahedral smectite is a type of natural sorbents used in ancient Egypt. Avicenna also wrote about the existence of substances capable of purifying the body from harmful elements.

Smectite collects harmful substances and microorganisms. This substance also increases the amount of mucus, improves its protective properties against microorganisms, toxins, salts. Smectite is able to selectively collect viruses and bacteria inside the gastrointestinal tract. The porous structure of the sorbent ensures its mild effect and biocompatibility.

Smectite "collects" on its surface molecules of harmful substances and microorganisms and removes them from the intestine, showing the effect of detoxification.

The main indication for the use of "Smekta" in children of any age is diarrhea of ​​any origin. The drug helps with the acute form associated with eating disorders, intake of poor-quality food, infections, as well as loose stools caused by allergies or arising while taking medicines, such as antibiotics. Clinical studies have shown that smectite neutralizes up to 90% of rotavirus within 1 minute after their contact.

In addition, smectitis helps with bloating, flatulence, heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms of various gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

The natural composition and mild effect of Smekta allow the use of this drug in young children and newborns. However, giving “Smekt”, as well as any other medicine, to children and especially to babies, is necessary only on the prescription of the doctor.

Despite the high biocompatibility and the natural composition of Smekta, children have certain contraindications for its use.First of all, it is the individual sensitivity or intolerance of the main or auxiliary components, including fructose.

You can not give children "Smektu" with intestinal obstruction, as well as such hereditary autoimmune diseases such as glucose-galactose malabsorption and sucrose-isomaltase deficiency.

Constipation is a major but very rare side effect when taking Smekta. As shown by the results of clinical studies, to overcome this undesirable effect, it is necessary to change the dosage of the drug.

Sometimes there are such manifestations as urticaria, skin rash. As a rule, they are associated with individual sensitivity to the drug.

"Smekta" is taken by mouth. When using powder for suspension preparation, the bag content is dissolved in about half a glass of water - 100 ml. This volume of liquid can be added to the porridge, baby puree or juice for a young child. Babies are comfortable to drink from the bottle.

Smekta tastes good, so even the youngest children drink it with pleasure. The effectiveness of the drug does not depend on whether it is taken with food or separately.

Method of use "Smekty" describes the instructions for use.

• With acute diarrhea newborns and children under the age of one year should be given a suspension prepared from one sachet bag, dividing it into three parts. During the day, the suspension is given at intervals of from 4 to 8 hours, unless the doctor has prescribed a different order of administration according to individual indications.
• Children from 1 year old Allowed to take one or two bags during the day. The duration of treatment should not exceed 7 days.
• If the child is 2 years old, then within 3–7 days it can be given a suspension prepared from 2-3 sachets.

When treating diarrhea in a child with the help of Smekta, it is necessary to strictly follow the dosage prescribed in the instructions or prescribed by the doctor. If the therapeutic dosage is exceeded by age, it can lead to constipation.

If an overdose of the drug occurred, for example, the course of treatment lasted more than 7 days, and the child has constipation, you must inform your doctor. Only a doctor will be able to prescribe adequate treatment, taking into account all the factors and the individual condition of the child.

Since "Smecta" is an effective sorbent, this drug, while being taken with other drugs, worsens their absorption and, consequently, the effectiveness of the treatment. Therefore, between taking "Smekta" and another drug, it is necessary to observe an interval of at least 1 hour, optimally - 2 hours.

Smekta is a safe preparation of natural origin, therefore it is sold in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. At home, the medicine should be stored at room temperature, not higher than 25 ° C. Shelf life of the drug is 3 years. Parents must ensure that Smekta is kept out of the reach of children in order to avoid uncontrolled reception of a pleasant-to-taste medication.

Doctors and parents consider Smekta a highly effective and practically indispensable medication for the treatment of acute diarrhea in children from a very young age. Reviews of parents on specialized websites dedicated to children's health show that the drug always helps with diarrhea, and the effectiveness of the drug does not depend on the origin of the liquid stool in the child.

So, in case of acute food poisoning of the child, the mother used Smekt according to the instructions. As the child refused to eat and drink, the mother invented a way to give the child a “Smekta” drink through a special syringe for children's syrups. After the first intake, diarrhea stopped, and after taking it for three times, all the other symptoms of poisoning disappeared.

The drug in the acute form begins to act only after 6 hours, with the usual form of diarrhea, the improvement occurs in 2 hours.

Parents also note that the convenient reception of “Smekta” along with any liquid food or drink familiar to the child facilitates the treatment process, and the shape of the suspension is convenient when traveling.

Some parents advise with severe diarrhea, when the child refuses to take medicine, any food and drink, to do an enema with suspension. Despite the fact that this method is not mentioned in the manufacturer’s instructions, they write in the reviews about its effectiveness. This means that no clinical trials have been conducted with this method of administration, and its effect is unpredictable. Parents should better follow the recommended route of administration and consult a doctor.

The active substance "Smekta" has no analogues. According to the therapeutic effect, the analogs of the drug are sorbents such as activated carbon, "Lactofiltrum"," White coal "," Polifepam ","Enterosgel" other.

The advantage of "Smekta" over analogues is a milder effect on the child's body. Smectin has the ability to selectively affect substances in the digestive tract, absorbing only toxic substances and microorganisms. Other sorbents are less discriminating and remove not only pathogenic microorganisms and toxins from the intestines, but also beneficial bacteria.

At the same time, Smekta is an inexpensive drug. Packing powder for the preparation of suspensions costs about 150 rubles. Ten bags are enough not only for the full course of treatment of the child, but also for other family members. In addition, sold ready-made suspension "Smekta", this form is very convenient to use during travel.

How to stop a child's diarrhea, see the following video.