Diarrhea in a baby is certainly not unknown to young parents. After all, it often happens that your little one has some diarrhea. Diarrhea is diagnosed when your baby’s stools are watery and more frequent than normal. Sometimes diarrhea can also smell very unpleasant. In most cases, diarrhea is not that bad and will heal on its own. There are numerous causes of diarrhea. The most common causes are an infection of the gastrointestinal tract or infection by some virus. In most cases, the treatment is very simple: simply continue the normal diet and, if necessary, add some extra water. This is mainly to prevent dehydration. After a few days, stools should become firmer again. In some cases of diarrhea, a visit to the doctor is indicated.
Every baby has a unique bowel movement
Just as everyone is unique among adults, this also applies to your baby. Some babies relieve themselves several times a day and other babies only do this every two days. Breastfed babies usually have yellow and loose stools. This varies depending on the mother’s diet. In most cases you can count on several dirty pampers or diapers per day. Bottle-fed babies have firmer bowel movements. As your baby gets older, his stool will change the color of the vegetable or fruit porridge he is given. For example, if your baby is given carrots, the stool will be on the red side. Diarrhea is when the stool actually flows out of the diaper or diaper and is watery.
Causes of diarrhea in a baby
Diarrhea can have many causes. The GP can determine this cause through an expert examination.
- Infection of the gastrointestinal tract: if your baby has diarrhea for no real reason, there is a good chance that it is due to an infection. This form of diarrhea is also called acute gastroenteritis.
- Virus infection: babies can also become infected by a virus. An example of a virus is the rotavirus. Young babies are vaccinated against rotavirus. This is to prevent dehydration in your baby.
- Chronic diarrhea: Diarrhea that lasts several weeks or months may indicate a hypersensitivity to a particular nutrient. A specialized doctor can determine this. If the diarrhea persists for a long time, a more serious condition should also be suspected.
- Diarrhea can result from taking certain antibiotics.
Treating diarrhea in babies
If your child has slightly flatter stools, you do not need to do anything special. Just continue to provide the normal food and, if necessary, add some extra water to prevent dehydration. A normal diet is important for your baby to get the necessary energy to promote recovery. If your child has diarrhea very often and for a very long time, there is a risk of dehydration . Be alert to this because your baby can lose a lot of fluid and salt this way. This is a very dangerous situation and can lead to serious illness in infants.
Prevent your baby from dehydrating
If your child becomes dehydrated, let him drink plenty of water. If your baby does not like to drink water, try tea or soup. In case of very watery stools, it is recommended to add a saline solution. You can buy rehydration products at the pharmacy. This is powder to dissolve in water. After each watery bowel movement, let your baby drink this saline solution, according to your doctor’s guidelines. These products will not cure your baby, but will keep him from dehydrating.
When to visit the doctor?
If you are really not aware of the persistent diarrhea, it is best to contact your doctor. Symptoms such as drowsiness, vomiting, drinking little and high fever are signals to visit your doctor. The doctor can then perform an examination to determine the cause of the diarrhea. He can also prescribe medications in some cases. Hospitalization is necessary if your baby shows real signs of dehydration. Extra fluid can then be administered through a stomach tube or through the veins.
