Can I give my baby Gatorade or electrolyte drinks if he has diarrhea or high fever?

Yes. According to pediatrician Maria Conception Cabildo-Quizon, M.D., sports drinks may help relieve diarrhea. One problem with the Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is that it doesn’t taste very good. Flavored sports drinks taste better and contain glucose and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, thus, they may help ease diarrhea. Lactobacilli drinks may also help because the overgrowth of the lactobacillus bacteria crowds out and protects the growth of other harmful bacteria during diarrhea.

However, if the child is not consuming other food items and other fluids, it may make diarrhea persist longer. Give flavored sports drinks for no more than eight hours, until the child is given an appropriate electrolyte solution or medication prescribed by the pediatrician.

 


SOURCE:

    Maria Conception Cabildo-Quizon, M.D., pediatrician and active rotating consultant, Department of Pediatrics, San Juan Medical Center