Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea in babies can be worrying to mothers.  It is frequently mild and short term, but it can last up to 14 days.  The most common cause of diarrhoea in babies is through viral infection.

Diarrhoea in babies should not be treated lightly as it is easy for them to become dehydrated.  When a baby has diarrhoea it will often cause concern, but the condition usually passes by itself and without the need for a doctor’s visit.

Diarrhoea in infants is associated with more frequent, watery bowel movements than is normal for the child.  The stools are usually green and watery or very messy motions which are often in large amounts.

The biggest concern with diarrhoea in babies is the sudden loss loss of fluids leading to rapid dehydration. Moreover, the younger your baby, the faster dehydration occurs.

Apart from frequent, watery stools, diarrhoea in babies can cause the child to experience many other unpleasant conditions. These include irritability, abdominal pain (which can be disruptive to sleep) and loss of appetite. The child may also lack energy, vomit and in more serious cases pus or blood may be present in the stools.

It is important that parents can gain an understanding of the causes of diarrhoea in babies.  One of the most common causes of diarrhoea in infants is stomach flu, also known as viral gastroenteritis.

Baby diarrhoea can also result from incorrect preparation of formula feeds, antibiotics, colds, and food poisoning.

Some babies develop diarrhoea as a result of intolerance to milk or soy-based infant formula.

Food allergies may be suspected as a cause of diarrhoea where the infant is not gaining weight correctly appears to have abdominal pains and passes watery stools that smell bad.

The move to solid food can also trigger diarrhoea in some infants.

Diarrhoea in young children will usually clear up within a week.  Despite being self-healing, the main threat to the baby is dehydration.   Dehydration itself has a number of symptoms to be wary of, including lethargy, irritability, sunken eyes and the fontanel (baby’s soft spot on the skull). Often the baby has far fewer wet nappies than normal.

To ensure the baby is kept hydrated, your baby’s doctor may recommend using oral rehydration drinks specially designed to replace the water and electrolytes lost during diarrhoea.

Avoid using glucose drinks, undiluted fruit juices and fizzy drinks as there is a chance that the unabsorbed sugar can actually increase diarrhoea. Unless your baby is vomiting frequently, you can still give him or her solids.

Diarrhoea germs are easily spread from person to person and especially from child to child.  The best way to prevent diarrhoea in babies is for the caregiver to wash his or her hands well before preparing feedings and especially after using the toilet. Always wash your hands well after changing baby and all feeding bottles should be cleaned with boiling water.

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