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💧 Childhood Diarrhea in Côte d’Ivoire: A Preventable Threat to Our Children

👶 What is Childhood Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is defined as the passage of loose or watery stools at least three times a day.
In children under five, it can lead to severe dehydration within hours — a life-threatening condition. The most common causes include viral infections (especially rotavirus), bacterial infections (such as shigellosis), and parasites — often linked to contaminated water, unsafe food, or poor hygiene practices.

⚠️ Why Is This a Serious Health Issue?

Diarrhea remains the second leading cause of death in children under five, responsible for over 525,000 deaths globally each year.
In Africa, diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria account for nearly 45% of deaths among children under five (UNICEF Data).

In Côte d’Ivoire, the incidence of acute diarrhea tripled between 2002 and 2009, rising from 50‰ to 152‰. It is now the third leading cause of child mortality (ScienceDirect).

🧼 How Can Childhood Diarrhea Be Prevented?

• Rigorous handwashing: Washing hands with soap can reduce diarrheal diseases by up to 35%. (OpenEdition Journals)

• Safe water: Always use boiled or treated water for drinking and cooking.

• Healthy food: Serve well-cooked meals and avoid food left uncovered.

• Exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months: Breast milk provides natural immunity against infections.

• Vaccination: Rotavirus causes over 500,000 deaths and 2 million hospitalizations yearly among children, with 85% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. (Abidjan.net)

🏥 What to Do If Your Child Has Diarrhea

1. Rehydrate Immediately
   Use Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) from your pharmacy. If unavailable, prepare a homemade solution:
   1 liter of boiled water + 6 teaspoons of sugar + 1 teaspoon of salt.

2. Continue feeding the child
   Maintain breastfeeding or offer enriched porridge to avoid malnutrition.

3. Monitor for danger signs
   Seek medical care if the child has frequent vomiting, high fever, blood in stools, refuses to drink, or appears very weak.

4. Do NOT use antibiotics without medical advice
   Most diarrhea cases are viral and do not require antibiotics.

💊 Your Pharmacy’s Role

Your local pharmacy is a key partner in your child’s health.
We provide guidance on using ORS, probiotics, and nutritional supplements, and promote good hygiene practices.
We can also organize awareness sessions in your neighborhood or local schools.

✅ In Summary

Childhood diarrhea is a preventable emergency.
With simple prevention measures, informed families, and early care, we can protect our children — together.
Tomorrow’s health begins today — in every household, every habit, and every shared piece of advice.

👩‍⚕️ Need advice or a product?

Come talk to your pharmacist. We’re here to help.

📚 Sources & References

• World Health Organization – Diarrheal Disease Factsheet: Causes, Prevention & Global Data
  👉 who.int

• UNICEF – Africa Child Mortality Data
  👉 data.unicef.org

• ScienceDirect – Diarrhea Trends in Côte d’Ivoire
  👉 sciencedirect.com

• Susu Santé – Infant Mortality and Public Health Challenges in Côte d’Ivoire
  👉 susu.fr

• WHO Côte d’Ivoire – Rotavirus and Vaccination Campaigns
  👉 news.abidjan.net

• Vertigo – Online Journal on Handwashing and Diarrheal Disease Prevention
  👉 journals.openedition.org

Pharmacie Bethy