Baby in Hospital for Constant Passing of Watrry Stool

What Is Chronic Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is when yous have loose, watery stools several times a twenty-four hours. This condition generally goes away inside a day or two without medical treatment. Diarrhea that continues for four weeks (even if it comes and goes) is considered to be chronic diarrhea.

When diarrhea lasts for several days, it can lead to dehydration. Infants and immature children are especially vulnerable to dehydration caused past diarrhea. During episodes of diarrhea, the torso loses the fluids and electrolytes it needs to function correctly. Electrolytes are minerals that affect your musculus part, the amount of h2o in your body, and the acidity of your claret.

Telephone call your kid's doctor or pediatrician correct away if they have diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours, especially if they also take a fever. Chronic diarrhea can lead to shock or organ harm in infants and young children.

Diarrhea is also a major cause of malnutrition in children under the age of 5. Many of these cases are due to contaminated h2o and food. In developing countries, a child under the age of iii is likely to have 3 episodes of diarrhea a twelvemonth. Each incident deprives the kid of nutrition needed for growth. Continued episodes of diarrhea can therefore cause malnutrition. Malnutrition can go on the cycle of diarrhea.

Around the earth, diarrhea is the second leading crusade of decease in children nether historic period 5. It takes the lives of approximately 760,000 children each year.

What Causes Diarrhea?

The cause of diarrhea in children isn't ever found. However, common causes include:

also much fruit or fruit juice
utilise of antibiotics or other medications (in baby or breastfeeding female parent)
allergies or sensitivities to particular foods
dietary changes (in infant or breastfeeding female parent)

Astringent diarrhea tin be caused past:

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
bacterial infections
viral infections
parasites
malnutrition
improper food preparation
poor hygiene

Children visiting foreign countries (especially developing countries) are at risk of getting traveler'due south diarrhea. This condition usually occurs when someone consumes contaminated h2o or food.

What Are the Symptoms of Diarrhea?

Infants often produce loose stools, and so this shouldn't exist firsthand cause for business. However, a sudden increase in watery stools — specially if they're accompanied by congestion or fever — may be a sign of diarrhea in infants and immature children. Other symptoms include:

intestinal pain or cramping
nausea
urgency to use the bath, or loss of bowel control
fever and chills
dehydration

What Are the Symptoms of Dehydration?

Dehydration is when the body no longer has enough fluids to work properly. In infants and young children, dehydration can progress rapidly. It can pb to more serious health complications if information technology isn't treated quickly. Complications of dehydration include shock, organ impairment, and coma.

Signs of dehydration include:

dry out oral cavity
dry out/sunken eyes
sunken cheeks
no tears when crying
irritability
dry peel
fatigue

The post-obit symptoms can indicate severe aridity:

more than eight hours have passed without urination
child is extremely listless
the soft spot on tiptop of your infant's head (fontanelle) appears sunken
pinched peel does non bound back
high fever
unconsciousness

Call your child's doctor or go to the infirmary immediately if your child shows signs of aridity.

Caring for Your Child at Home

Treating your child at home is usually effective when they accept a mild case of diarrhea. Information technology's important to note that over-the-counter medications used to care for diarrhea in adults shouldn't be given to infants or children. Talk to your child's doctor before using over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines.

You tin care for your child at home in the following ways:

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.
Do non feed them foods that seem to trigger diarrhea.
Wash your hands often — especially later on each diaper change — to avert spreading bacteria in the home.

You should continue chest-feeding when your baby has diarrhea. Breast milk can assistance ease symptoms of diarrhea and speed upwards recovery.

Monitor your child carefully, looking for signs of dehydration. Telephone call your child'southward dr. right away if you think your child is dehydrated.

Change your child's diaper immediately subsequently a bowel movement. This can help prevent diaper rash and irritation. Utilise h2o instead of wipes, which can farther irritate the pare. Over-the-counter creams with zinc oxide (such as Desitin) tin can also help soothe and protect skin.

When to Have Your Child to the Doctor

Take your child to the md if they've had diarrhea for more than two days. You lot should as well accept them to the doc if they show any of the following symptoms:

fever
encarmine diarrhea
astringent diarrhea (more than eight stools in eight hours)
diarrhea accompanied by vomiting
abdominal pain or cramping
recurring diarrhea

Diarrhea in infants and immature children tin quickly lead to aridity, which is a dangerous condition. Don't hesitate to telephone call a doctor.

How Is Chronic Diarrhea Diagnosed?

The dr. will want to decide the cause of your child's diarrhea if the condition becomes chronic (long-term). A complete medical history and concrete examination will be required. Be prepared to provide information about your kid'due south diet, eating habits, and medications. Your child's doctor may use the following tests to determine the crusade:

claret tests (to check for illness)
stool culture (to check for bacteria and parasites)
allergy tests

Depending on the results of these tests, further testing may be needed.

How Is Chronic Diarrhea Treated?

The treatment plan for your child volition depend on the crusade and severity of their diarrhea.

Your child may need to stay in the infirmary if they're experiencing chronic diarrhea or dehydration. They'll likely exist given fluids containing electrolytes to help restore balance.

It'southward important to follow the doctor's advice carefully. Avoid giving your child foods or liquids that trigger diarrhea. Stick with bland foods instead (such as potatoes, toast, or bananas) until the diarrhea has subsided.

How Tin Diarrhea Be Prevented?

Diarrhea tin't always be prevented. However, you can lower your child's risk of getting diarrhea by practicing good hygiene and following condom food preparation guidelines.

Traveler's Diarrhea

Speak with your child's doc if you're planning on traveling with your child to a foreign country. The doctor will be able to give you specific data on how to avert traveler'southward diarrhea. Here are some preparatory measures to go on in mind:

Employ bottled water for drinking, making ice cubes, cooking, and brushing teeth.
Avoid unpasteurized milk or milk products.
Wash and skin raw fruits and vegetables.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish.
Avert getting food from street vendors.
Pack some snacks from home for your kid.
Practice proper hygiene and launder your child's hands often.
Pack mitt cleansers or wipes in case there aren't hand-washing facilities.

Rotavirus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 2 oral vaccines that tin can help prevent rotavirus infections in children (RotaTeq and Rotarix). Both are given in multiple doses to babies during their first months of life. Enquire your kid'south dr. if these vaccines are recommended for your child.