Diarrhea can be acute lasts a short time or chronic lasting more than 2 weeks. Most diarrhea in children is caused by viruses. Diarrhea can also be caused by bacteria, parasites, changes in diet such as drinking too much fruit juice , problems with the intestines such as allergy to foods , and the use of some medicines.
Most of the time mild diarrhea lasts from 3 to 6 days. Sometimes a child will have loose stools for several days more. As long as the child acts well and is drinking and eating enough, parents do not need to worry about loose stools. Children with viral diarrhea have a fever and may vomit. Soon after these symptoms appear, children get diarrhea. The most important part of treating diarrhea is to prevent your child from becoming dehydrated.
Urinates less often for infants, less than 6 wet diapers per day. Stools will be loose if dehydration is caused by diarrhea. Vomit that looks green, tinged with blood, or like coffee grounds. Mild diarrhea without vomiting. Diarrhea often goes away in a couple of days on its own.
Most children with mild diarrhea do not need to change their diet and electrolyte solutions are usually not needed. Mild diarrhea with vomiting. Children who have diarrhea and are vomiting will need to stop their usual diets. Electrolyte solutions should be given in small amounts, often until the vomiting stops. Breastfeeding should continue. Severe diarrhea. Children who have a watery bowel movement every 1 to 2 hours, or more often, and signs of dehydration may need to stop eating for a short period such as 1 day or less to focus on drinking to replenish fluid lost in those stools.
They need to avoid liquids that are high in sugar, high in salt, or very low in salt ie, water and tea. For severe dehydration, children may need to be given fluids through the vein IV in the emergency department. Stop germs from spreading. Frequent handwashing with soap or using a hand sanitizer is the best way to prevent these germs from spreading.
Avoid germs. Try to keep your child away from children who have diarrhea or are vomiting. What can we help you find? Book Appointment Online with select physicians.
Request Appointment Online to schedule with one of our coordinators. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call Menu Search. Toddler's Diarrhea. There are several factors that contribute to toddler's diarrhea, including: Excessive fluid intake. Too much fluid can overwhelm the ability of a toddler's digestive tract to absorb water and electrolytes, resulting in diarrhea.
Carbohydrate malabsorption. Fruit juices often contain large amounts of sugars and carbohydrates, such as sorbitol and fructose, which are poorly absorbed in a child's digestive tract. Fat can slow down a child's digestion allowing more time for absorption of nutrients.
Diets high in fiber and low in fat may cause food to move through the intestines rapidly resulting in diarrhea. Immature digestive tract. The nerves that carry signals to a toddler's digestive tract may not be fully mature which results in rapid movement of food through the digestive tract.
This may not allow adequate time for absorption resulting in diarrhea. Children with toddler's diarrhea often have: Between five and 10 loose, watery large stools per day Stools with undigested food particles Diarrhea lasting weeks followed by weeks of normal bowel movements You should contact a pediatric gastroenterologist if your child experiences more serious symptoms with diarrhea, such as: Blood in the stool Chronic fever Greasy or oily stools Severe abdominal pain Bowel movement accidents Vomiting Weight loss or poor weight gain If your child experiences diarrhea associated with dairy products or other foods, you should consult a physician.
Many people cannot absorb lactose. The gut bacteria convert the lactose to gas. The main symptoms are a lot of gas, loose stools and stomach bloating. Onset usually at age 4 or 5. This most often runs in the family genetic. Diarrhea Scale Mild: watery stools per day Moderate: watery stools per day Severe: 10 or more watery stools per day The main risk of diarrhea is dehydration.
Loose or runny stools do not cause dehydration. Frequent, watery stools can cause dehydration. Dehydration: How to Know Dehydration means that the body has lost too much fluid. Mild diarrhea or mild vomiting does not cause this. Neither does a small decrease in fluid intake.
Dehydration is the most important problem caused by diarrhea. Dehydration is a reason to see your doctor right away. These are signs of dehydration: Decreased urine no urine in more than 8 hours happens early in dehydration. So does a dark yellow color. If the urine is light straw colored, your child is not dehydrated. Dry tongue and inside of the mouth. Dry lips are not helpful. Dry eyes with decreased or absent tears In babies, a depressed or sunken soft spot Slow blood refill test: longer than 2 seconds.
First, press on the thumbnail and make it pale. Then let go. Count the seconds it takes for the nail to turn pink again. Ask your doctor to teach you how to do this test. Fussy, tired out or acting ill. If your child is alert, happy and playful, he or she is not dehydrated. A child with severe dehydration becomes too weak to stand. They can also be very dizzy when trying to stand. Normal breastfed stools are loose often runny and seedy. Stools are yellow, but sometimes can be green.
The green color is from bile. Runny stools can even be bordered by a water ring. These are all normal stools.
Breastfed babies often pass more than 6 stools per day. Until 2 months of age, they may pass a stool after each feeding. But, if stools suddenly increase in number and looseness, suspect diarrhea. If it lasts for 3 or more stools, the baby has diarrhea.
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