Many don't take dysentery, which is an inflammatory disease of the intestine, as a serious health issue. It is indeed a disease which could turn severe and may even turn fatal. It is usually children below five years of age who gets easily affected by the disease. Many reports on global health state that at least a child dies of dysentery, every 15 seconds. The number of times the patient empties his/her bowel should be noted.
Besides water, good electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and other small elements are lost from the body during dysentry. A single bout of dysentery could lose the proteins and minerals that the body has been storing up for six months. If timely treatment is not sought, then it may turn severe and blood, too, can be lost.
Since lots of water would be lost when affected with dysentery, it is important to replenish the body with water and electrolytes. The Oral Rehydration Solution prescribed by the World Health Organization should be given to the patient as soon as possible. This solution should be prepared only in clean surrounding, using clean drinking water. The ORS solution can be easily made by mixing 8 teaspoons (40 grams) of sugar and a teaspoon full of salt in a litre of clean water. The measurements of the sugar and salt shouldn't be altered. If the amount of sugar is high in the solution, it could increase the intensity of the dysentery, and if the salt is too much it may lead to vomiting as well.
In case of severe dysentery, infants should be given 1/4 cup of the ORS solution while older children should be given ½ cup. The adults can consume ¾ cups of the solution. The patients should consume the ORS solution in frequent intervals.
Milk and milk products should be avoided during bouts of diarrhoea. Breast milk, salted rice water, tender coconut water, and orange juice can be consumed. Gradually, rice gruel thinned with water, fruits juices, health mixes without adding milk, apples, vegetable soups, porridges made with millet and sago could be added into their diet. Honey or jaggery can be added for sweetness. Green leafy vegetables should be avoided. Ripened fruits and vegetables rich in fibre, too ,should be avoided if you are suffering from dysentery.
If you are not suffering from vomiting, you could consume puddings made from skimmed milk powder, and poached egg as well. Sweet snacks, fried food, dried fruits, nuts and lentils shouldn't be eaten. Liquid foods are easy on the stomach and help to digest easily as well.
Here are a few recipes of the dishes which could be eaten when you are affected with dysentery:
Bombay toast
Ingredients
2 slices bread
1 egg
1 tbsp skimmed milk powder
¼ cup water
Preparation
Mix the milk powder in lukewarm water
Add the egg into it and beat well
Dip the bread slices in this mixture
Roast on a hot tawa.
Millet porridge
Ingredients
2 tbsp millet powder
½ cup water
1 tbsp jaggery powder
1 tsp skimmed milk powder
Preparation
Mix the skimmed milk powder
Prepare the porridge by cooking millet powder in water
Add the skimmed milk and jaggery powder
Mix well
The consistency of the porridge shouldn’t be too thick.
Sago porridge
Ingredients
¼ cup sago pearls
1 tbsp skimmed milk
1 ½ cups water
A pinch of salt
Preparation
Boil the water and mix the sago pearls
Stir until the sag are cooked
Add the skimmed milk and salt.
Barley soup
Ingredients
1 tbsp barley powder
1 tbsp skimmed milk powder
1 tbsp cooked palak
1 tbsp cooked potato
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups water
Preparation
Mix the barley powder in water and cook
Cook together the palak, potato, skimmed milk powder mixed in water and salt
When this is boiled add it into the cooked barley
Mix well and serve hot.
Vegetable soup
Ingredients
½ potato (cooked and mashed)
1 tbsp green peas (cooked and mashed)
¼ cup tomato puree
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups water
Preparation
Cook the vegetables with tomato puree and water
Pass the soup through a sieve before serving it.
Custard
Ingredients
1 egg
2 tbsp skimmed milk powder
1 tbsp sugar
Preparation
Mix the skimmed milk powder in water
Add beaten eggs and sugar into it and cook it on low flame by stirring continuously
Transform this mixture into a small glass bowl and cook it in double boiling method
The consistency of the custard shouldn't be too thick.
