NUTRITION FOR UNWELL CHILD

HUB 1133/HTBB1003

CHILD NUTRITION

By : Zakiah bt Bahar

INTRODUCTION :FEELING SICK

W

hen children are unwell, and especially if they are in pain, they often feel

frightened or worried. They need to be cared for by the people they feel

close to. Unless they are very sick most young children will not stay in

bed.

W

hen you or I are not well, what we mostly want is someone to look after

us, to give us food and sympathy, peace to be able to rest, and something

to keep us amused when we are feeling better. When children are sick,

they need all of this and more. When they are unwell, and especially if

they are in pain, children often feel frightened or worried. They need to

be cared for by the people they feel close to.

COMMON REASON

U

pper respiratory infections – cold, sore throats, sinusitis, tonsillitis, croup

E

ar infection

I

nfectious diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough, rubella,

chickenpox.

D

iarrhoea and vomiting

CHILDREN WHO ARE UNWELL

•T

hey have diarrhoea and vomiting, can quickly become dehydrated.

•S

igns of dehydration in a young child include:

- thirst and dry parched

mouth;

- sunken eyes;

- depressed anterior fontanelle

in infants;

- scanty urine output or dry

nappies in infants;

- quickened, weak pulse and

low blood preasure.

NUTRITION FOR AN UNWELL CHILD

•D

epends very much on how he feel, his appetite, his ability to chew and swallow

and any medical instructions from the doctor.

•A

child with a raised temperature who is fighting infection may only take sips or

drinks of clear fluids during the first 24 hours.

•T

his quite normal. Fluid intake is important to bring down a temperature and

prevent dehydration.

•D

o not try to make the child eat if he is not interested in solid food.

•B

e flexible when reintroducing solids, as illness is a time when some of the rules

regarding Group Five (‘occasional’) foods can be broken.

GENERAL GUIDELINESOffering food and drink to an unwell child include:

•Encourage fluid intake:

In addition to plain water, offer lemon

barley water, lemonade or whatever fizzy drinks a

child enjoys, as they are quickly absorbed and the

sugar content provides energy. Water for infants

under 1 year must be boiled and cooked.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

O

ffer light, nutritious food:

a

little and often. Small portions of soup, egg custard, milk

puddings, favourite yoghurts, jelly and ice-cream and

slices of fruit may temp a child. Small, thin,crustless

sandwiches with favourite fillings or soldiers of bread and

butter can be appetising.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

E

ncourage milk foods:

milk is very nutritious and can be given in a

variety of ways, for example yoghurt, fromage

frais, milk shakes, warm chocolate drink or

custard. (For milk in diarrhoea and vomiting)

GENERAL GUIDELINES

A

child with mumps or a sore throat may find it easier

to eat pureed or semi-solid foods.

P

rovide interesting drinking straws or a ‘special’ beaker

to encourage him to drink plenty of fluids. Older

children may enjoy sucking a home-made ice lolly.

A CHILD IS SICK AND HAS ABSOLUTELY NO APPETITE. HOW CAN ENCOURAGE

HER TO EAT?"

S

erve up her favorites.  When your baby is sick, certain foods appeal

while others don't (just like when you're sick).  So be especially

respectful of your baby's likes and dislikes when illness makes her

appetite iffy.  If that means nothing but breast milk or formula and

pears for three days, so be it.

D

on't pressure her to eat. Babies tend to take what they need when

they need it, and once they recover from their illness, their appetites

usually recover too —big time. In fact, once your baby's bug goes

bye-bye, don't be surprised to see her become a little power-eater.

CONCLUSION

A

CHILD WITH WHOOPING COUGH FREQUENTLY

VOMITS SO NUTRITIOUS FLUIDS ARE VERY

IMPORTANT. SPECIAL HIGH CALORIE DRINKS MAY BE

ADVISED BY THE DOCTOR.

E

NCOURAGE FLUID INTAKE FOR ANY CHILD WHO IS

UNWELL.

Thank you

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