[PDF] The BRAT Diet for Acute Diarrhea in Children : Should It Be Used ? | Semantic Scholar (2024)

FAQs

Should the BRAT diet for acute diarrhea in children be used? ›

Although the BRAT diet is no longer recommended for children, our Plano pediatricians have several suggestions to help your child feel better. Focus on fluids. Diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration, so make sure your child is getting enough to drink.

The banana, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet may help treat diarrhea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints. However, many health professionals no longer recommend it due to the risk of nutrient and calorie deficiencies.

BRAT is an acronym for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast (or Tea). To date, no clinical trials have been con- ducted to assess its effectiveness, although some data exist to evaluate the role of bananas and rice in treat- ing diarrhea.

The use of cereals, rice and milk as a stop-gap eating plan for stomach upset has been validated as a more effective remedy to manage diarrhea than the BRAT diet by recent research in hospitals in South America and Asia.

Older children may avoid dairy initially and try a bland diet consisting of bananas, apple sauce, rice, and toast. Antibiotics may be prescribed for children with specific bacterial or parasitic illnesses, although in most cases antibiotics do not change how long the diarrhea lasts or its severity.

“The BRAT diet acronym stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast,” says Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, a Piedmont therapeutic dietitian. “Historically, it was used in pediatrics when kids got sick and couldn't tolerate anything. But this diet is helpful for anyone who has nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.”

The BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, apple sauce, toast, or tea, has fallen out of favor as a treatment option because it does not provide enough electrolytes and other essential nutrients.

Applesauce is a better choice than raw apples as the fruit's skin contains insoluble fiber. Applesauce also has pectin that can help bind stools.

With diarrhea, it is advisable to eat bland foods such as toast. If people wish to, they can add bananas, peanut butter, or applesauce on toast.

For the first few days, Dr. Staller recommends following a BRAT diet — Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. The bananas bind the stool, slowing the movement, while white rice, applesauce, and dry, white toast are low in fiber and easily digested.

Are eggs ok on the BRAT diet? ›

Progress to a “regular” diet by adding such things as soft cooked eggs, sherbert, stewed fruits, cooked vegetables, white meat of chicken or turkey. Avoid milk and dairy products for three days. Avoid fried, fatty, greasy and spicy foods. Avoid pork, veal, salmon and sardines.

Eat BRAT diet foods

Soups: clear broth, such as chicken, vegetable or beef. Liquids: cranberry, apple and grape juice, tea (without caffeine), water. Snacks: canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, creamy peanut butter.

You may have heard of the BRAT diet which stands for Bananas, Rice, Apples, and Toast. The BRAT diet was often recommended for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but is no longer because of how restrictive it is.

Dr. DEL MUNDO's concern for children led her to conceptualize a diet which consists of banana, rice, apple, tea (BRAT) for treatment of diarrhea. Adopted worldwide, this diet has saved many children from dehydration resulting from diarrhea.

Foods you can eat

In addition to eating bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, there are other mild foods you can turn to when you're having stomach issues: Dry cereal. Saltine crackers. Oatmeal.

In most cases, treatment includes replacing lost fluids. Antibiotics may be prescribed when bacterial infections are the cause. Children should drink lots of fluids. This helps replace the lost body fluids.

Pediatric patients: According to the Infectious Disease Society of America, loperamide is not recommended to manage infectious diarrhea in pediatric patients. [19] Use a minimum effective dose for the possible shortest duration. Loperamide is not recommended for children younger than 2.

Cooked vegetables, such as carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, asparagus tips, acorn squash, and peeled zucchini. Some desserts and snacks, such as Jell-O, popsicles, cakes, cookies, or sherbet. Baked potatoes.

In many cases, you can continue feeding your child as usual. The diarrhea will normally go away in time, without any changes or treatment. But while children have diarrhea, they should: Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 larger meals.