Babies Had Horrible Diarrhea for at Least 3 to 4 Days

Baby Diarrhea: A Parent's Guide to Causes and Treatments

Are y'all noticing extra watery poop in the diaper? Learn what causes the runs and how to stop diarrhea in babies fast.

It'due south normal for baby stools to be soft and loose, especially during an infant'southward starting time few months. Merely when your infant has diarrhea, chances are that you'll know information technology. "The poop will have a watery consistency and bowel movements will occur more frequently," says Shaista Safder, 1000.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando. Babies with diarrhea may also take a fever or seem disinterested in eating. Learn the potential causes for runny stool and how to stop babe diarrhea fast.

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Credit: Garnet Photograph/Shutterstock

What Does Baby Diarrhea Look Like?

Canteen-fed babies tend to accept tan-dark-brown poop, while breastfeed infants have loose, xanthous, and seedy stool. So how can you tell the departure between baby diarrhea vs. normal poop? Start by examining the frequency of their bowel movements—not only the texture.

• RELATED: Breastfed Infant Poop: How It'southward Different and What's Normal

When a baby is very immature (less than a month) it'southward typical to see a bowel move every fourth dimension they eat or even more often. After a month, the dirty diapers should ho-hum down to well-nigh three or 4 per day; afterwards two months, they tin be every bit infrequent equally ane per day to one per week. Only if your infant has diarrhea, they'll poop two or three times more than normal.

In addition, infant diarrhea looks watery, and information technology usually comes in loftier volumes. The color tin can range from yellow to green to nighttime chocolate-brown. Babies with diarrhea may as well act agitated and fussy, and they might take trouble feeding. These side effects can occur with bottle-fed baby diarrhea and breastfed baby diarrhea.

Causes of Diarrhea in Babies

Diarrhea in babies has many potential causes. Here are some of the most common ones.

Viral infections. A rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea in children ages 2 and younger. Fortunately, the number of children who go this intestinal infection has dropped significantly since the introduction of the oral rotavirus vaccine in 2006. "Vaccinated children tin still get rotavirus, but they tend to have milder symptoms and recover faster," says Dr. Safder.

Antibiotics. About one in 10 children who take antibiotics develop diarrhea, nausea, and tummy hurting. "In improver to targeting bad bacteria, antibiotics kill off healthy bacteria in the gut, which can pb to stomach upset or diarrhea," says Iona Munjal, Grand.D., director of the Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. If you call up antibiotics are causing your infant's diarrhea, talk to your medico earlier stopping the medication. Stopping antibiotics early can atomic number 82 to antibody resistance and cause a bacterial infection to return.

• RELATED: The Baby Poop Guide: What's Normal, What's Not

Parasites. Infants in daycare centers have a higher risk of contracting giardia, an intestinal infection acquired by parasites. Exposure occurs when babies put fecal-contaminated toys, nutrient, their easily, or other objects into their mouths. Well-nigh children go ameliorate without special treatment.

Milk allergy. Up to 3 percent of children are allergic to milk proteins constitute in dairy products, including most formulas, and breastfed babies can develop allergies to milk proteins in the dairy products their moms eat. A baby with a milk protein allergy may vomit and develop hives, besides every bit diarrhea. If your babe has a milk protein allergy, your pediatrician may switch them to a special formula. Nursing moms may have to forgo dairy or foods containing milk poly peptide.

Baby Diarrhea Treatments

Because diarrhea is the body's manner of getting rid of germs, it's best to allow the illness run its class without medicine. "Y'all should never give antidiarrheal medication to a baby," says Dr. Safder, because the U.S. Nutrient and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved these meds for babies. Instead, you can ease your little ane's discomfort with these tricks.

Offering lots of liquids. "Infants with diarrhea are especially susceptible to dehydration because, pound for pound, their minor bodies lose liquids faster than [those of] older children or adults," says Rebecca Cherry, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Rady Children'south Hospital in San Diego. Because your infant is losing fluids from the diarrhea and probably isn't eating every bit much, y'all should offering them the chest or canteen more than often, besides as a pediatric oral rehydration drinkable, if your doctor says it's okay. "Don't switch formulas without your physician's consent and don't requite fruit juice. Sugary drinks similar juice can worsen diarrhea symptoms," says Dr. Cherry. That's considering some kids aren't able to assimilate the sugars easily.

• RELATED: What Causes Dark-green Baby Poop?

Serve salubrious foods. Babies who are eating solids tin keep with their normal foods. "There's no evidence that the Brat diet [bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast], unremarkably given for those with intestinal bug, is truly helpful. Plus, it lacks protein," notes Dr. Cherry. Instead, doctors now recommend lean meats, such as chicken, in addition to starchier foods like oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and crackers, every bit well as bite-size pretzels and crackers to help replenish lost sodium. "Probiotics found in yogurt or available in oral drops can help restore healthy leaner in the digestive tract," adds Dr. Safder.

Protect the bum. Acid in diarrhea, continuously soiled diapers, and frequent wipings can lead to skin irritation and diaper rash. Dr. Cherry recommends changing your babe'south diapers often; using a soft washcloth and warm water, instead of wipes; and patting dry or air-drying your baby's buttocks. Employ a thick coating of diaper ointment or other moisture barrier, like petroleum jelly or zinc oxide, at each irresolute. Let your physician know if the rash doesn't improve or if it worsens afterwards a few days. This oft indicates a yeast infection, which requires treatment with a prescription or an over-the-counter antifungal cream.

• RELATED: Signs Your Baby Has Gas and How to Treat It

When to Call the Medico

Does your baby have yellow watery diarrhea, light-green diarrhea, brown diarrhea, or anything in between? Depending on the cause, these bowel movements may last between five and 14 days. You should call your pediatrician if your infant has any of the post-obit symptoms.

• Signs of aridity (a sunken fontanel, few wet diapers, dry eyes when crying, dry out mouth, sunken eyes or lethargy)
• Mucus or foul odor in 3 or more diarrhea stools (for infants one month of age or younger)
• Claret in the stool
• Astringent diarrhea while taking antibiotics
• Fever (above 100.iv degrees Fahrenheit for babies younger than three months; in a higher place 102 degrees Fahrenheit for ages 3 months to 12 months)

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Source: https://www.parents.com/baby/health/diarrhea/diarrhea-101/

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