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Infantile Diarrhoea
Paediatrics
Infantile Diarrhoea is a common health issue in infants and young children, especially when the stools they pass are watery or excessively mushy. For slightly older children, having bowel movements that are soft or watery 2 to 3 times a day may be considered diarrhoea. Since diarrhoea can lead to losing fluids and electrolytes, infants are particularly prone to dehydration. Therefore, diarrhoea may last for several days and pose a risk of dehydration, which can be a significant concern for infant health.
Although diarrhoea in infants is common, it must be taken seriously, especially when there is a risk of dehydration. Parents and caregivers should closely monitor the symptoms of diarrhoea in babies and seek appropriate medical attention.
Common Causes of Infantile Diarrhoea
Infectious Factors |
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Food Factors |
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Medication Side Effects |
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Digestive System Disorders |
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Malnutrition and Improper Feeding |
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Environmental and Hygiene Factors |
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Psychological Factors |
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Poisoning |
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Treatments
Medical Treatment
- Doctors will carefully inquire about the medical history and perform a physical examination, mainly focusing on the abdomen, with particular attention to assessing dehydration. If diarrhoea is severe, the doctor may examine stool or urine to detect the cause of the illness and assist in determining dehydration.
- If a bacterial infection causes diarrhoea, antibiotics may be prescribed. Before taking antibiotics, consuming some yoghurt can promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria because antibiotics can simultaneously kill both beneficial and harmful bacteria.
Home Treatment
The primary approach to managing diarrhoea is controlling fluid and diet intake, so the recommended home treatments are as follows:
- Oral rehydration solutions help treat diarrhoea by replenishing lost fluids and providing appropriate amounts of salt and sugar. Drinking fruit juice, soda, or sports drinks is not recommended because excessive sugar content (such as some fruit juices containing sorbitol) may exacerbate diarrhoea.
- If the child seems ready to start eating, start with small amounts of semi-solid food, as a continuous liquid diet can eventually lead to diarrhoea, and try to avoid irritating foods as much as possible.
- Avoid giving the child too much milk. Milk contains a lot of lactose, and children often lose lactase during diarrhoea, leading to incomplete digestion of milk, which may worsen diarrhoea.
- Avoid consuming greasy foods, as fats cannot stay in the intestines long enough to digest fully.
Handling
Has your child taken any medication? | YES➡️ | Seek medical attention immediately |
NO⬇️ | ||
Have any of the following symptoms occurred? ⚠ Blood in stool ⚠ Severe abdominal pain | YES➡️ | Seek medical attention immediately |
NO⬇️ | ||
Have any of the following symptoms occurred? ⚠ Infants under six months old have not eaten for more than 3 hours ⚠ Infants under 1-year-old have had more than three watery stools in one day ⚠ Infants under 1-year-old have had more than seven loose stools and vomiting in one day ⚠ Diapers have not been wet for the past 6 hours | YES➡️ | Seek medical attention immediately |
NO⬇️ | ||
Has your child shown signs of dehydration? Decreased urination and tears / Dry mouth / Sunken eyes / Confusion or irritability / Dry mouth / Reduced activity | YES➡️ | Seek medical attention immediately |
NO⬇️ | ||
Diarrhoea has lasted for 3 days, and has there been any improvement in the condition? | NO➡️ | Seek medical attention immediately |
YES⬇️ | ||
Home treatment can be administered. |
FAQ
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