Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools. For some children, diarrhea is mild and will go away within a few days. For others, it might last longer. It can make your child lose excessive fluid (dehydrated) and feel weak.
Diarrhea– frequent runny or watery bowel movements (poop)– is usually caused by gastrointestinal (GI) infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
The specific bacteria that cause diarrhea can differ amongst geographical areas depending upon their level of sanitation, economic development, and health. For example, establishing nations with bad sanitation or where human waste is used as fertilizer frequently have outbreaks of diarrhea when intestinal tract bacteria or parasites infect crops or drinking water.
In industrialized nations, including the United States, diarrhea break outs are regularly linked to polluted water supplies, person-to-person contact in locations such as child-care centers, or “food poisoning” (when individuals get sick from improperly processed or preserved foods contaminated with bacteria).
In basic, infections that cause diarrhea are extremely contagious. The majority of cases can be infected others for as long as someone has diarrhea, and some infections can be contagious even longer.
Diarrheal infections can be spread out through:
- filthy hands
- polluted food or water
- some animals
- direct contact with feces (i.e., from filthy diapers or the toilet).
Anything that the infectious bacteria can be found in contact with can become polluted. This consists of toys, altering tables, surfaces in bathrooms, even the hands of somebody preparing food. Kids can end up being infected by touching an infected surface, such as a toilet or toy, and then putting their fingers in their mouths.
Infections
A typical cause of diarrhea is viral gastroenteritis (often called the “stomach flu,” it also can cause nausea and vomiting). Several infections can cause viral gastroenteritis, which can pass through a household, school, or day-care center quickly due to the fact that it’s extremely contagious. Although the symptoms typically last simply a few days, impacted kids (particularly infants) who are not able to obtain appropriate fluid intake can end up being dehydrated.
Rotavirus infection is a frequent cause of viral gastroenteritis in kids. Rotavirus generally causes explosive, watery diarrhea, although not all will show symptoms. Rotavirus has typically caused break outs of diarrhea during the winter season and early spring months, specifically in child-care centers and children’s health centers.
Another group of viruses that can cause diarrhea in children, particularly during the summertime, are enteroviruses, particularly coxsackievirus.
Food allergy
A food allergy indicates your child’s body immune system responds to generally harmless food proteins in such a way that can cause a mild or severe reaction, either right away or within a couple hours. Cow’s milk is the most typical food allergen. Others include eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.
Symptoms of a food allergy include diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain. In more severe cases, an allergic reaction can cause vomiting, hives, a rash, swelling, and problem breathing.
If you think your child might have a food allergy, talk with his doctor.
Call 911 if your child has problem breathing or if his face or lips swell.
Medical treatments, such as antibiotics and some cancer treatments can likewise cause diarrhea.
This post talks to diarrhea in children over 1 year of age. It is simple for a child with diarrhea to lose too much fluid and become dehydrated. Lost fluids need to be changed. For the majority of children, consuming the kinds of fluids they generally have must suffice.
Some water is okay. But excessive water alone, at any age, can be harmful. Other products, such as Pedialyte and Infalyte, might help keep a child well-hydrated. These products can be bought at the supermarket or pharmacy.
Popsicles and Jell-O can be excellent sources of fluids, particularly if your child is vomiting. You can slowly get big quantities of fluids into children with these products.
You might likewise give your child diminished fruit juice or broth.
DO NOT use medicines to slow down your child’s diarrhea without speaking with a doctor first. Ask your child’s healthcare supplier if using sports drinks is ok.
Diet for Toddlers with Diarrhea
In a lot of cases, you can continue feeding your child as usual. The diarrhea will usually disappear in time, without any changes or treatment. But while children have diarrhea, they should:
- Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals.
- Eat some salted foods, such as pretzels and soup.
When essential, changes in the diet might help. No particular diet is advised. But children often do better with boring foods. Give your child foods such as:
- Baked or broiled beef, chicken, fish, or turkey
- Prepared eggs
- Bananas and other fresh fruits
- Applesauce
- Bread products made from improved, white flour
- Pasta or white rice
- Cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes
- Pancakes and waffles made with white flour
- Cornbread, ready or served with hardly any honey or syrup
- Cooked vegetables, such as carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, asparagus suggestions, acorn squash, and peeled zucchini
- Some desserts and snacks, such as Jell-O, popsicles, cakes, cookies, or sherbet
- Baked potatoes
In general, eliminating seeds and skins from these foods is best.
Use low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt. If dairy products are making the diarrhea even worse or causing gas and bloating, your child might have to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days.
Children need to be permitted to take their time returning to their normal eating habits. For some children, a return to their regular diet can also bring a return of diarrhea. This is typically due to mild problems the gut has while soaking up routine foods.
Things Your Child Should Avoid Eating or Drinking
Children must prevent certain type of foods when they have diarrhea, consisting of fried foods, oily foods, processed or fast foods, pastries, donuts, and sausage.
Prevent providing children apple juice and full-strength fruit juices, as they can loosen up stool.
Have your child limitation or eliminated milk and other dairy products if they are making diarrhea even worse or causing gas and bloating.
Your child ought to avoid vegetables and fruits that can cause gas, such as broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy veggies, and corn.
Your child ought to likewise prevent caffeine and carbonated drinks at this time.
When children are all set for routine foods again, try providing: bananas, crackers, chicken, pasta, rice cereal.
Good luck! Have a nice weekend.
