Diarrhea is frequent, loose, and watery bowel movements. A child with diarrhea typically passes stool more than three times a day. People of all ages can get diarrhea and the average adult has a bout of acute diarrhea about four times a year. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), in the United States, each child will have had seven to 15 episodes of diarrhea by age 5.
Children can have acute and chronic forms of diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own without special treatment. Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. Chronic diarrhea may be a feature of an underlying chronic disease.
Causes
Some of the common causes of diarrhea in children include bacteria, viruses, parasites, medications, functional bowel disorders, and food sensitivities. Infection with the rotavirus is the most common cause of acute childhood diarrhea. Rotavirus diarrhea usually resolves in 3 to 9 days. Children who are 6 to 32 weeks old can be vaccinated against the virus with a vaccine called Rotateq.
Diarrhea is especially dangerous in newborns and infants, leading to dehydration in just a day or two. Dehydration results in loss of fluid and important salts and minerals. A child can die from dehydration within a few days. Dehydration must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. If your child has diarrhea, do not hesitate to call the doctor for advice.
Take your child to the doctor if there is no improvement after 24 hours or if any of the following symptoms appear:
Signs of dehydration in children may include the following
To prevent dehydration, the fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly because the body cannot function without them. Electrolytes are the salts and minerals that affect the amount of water in your body, muscle activity, and other important functions.
Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. Broth and soups that contain sodium, and fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables that contain potassium, help restore electrolyte levels. Over-the-counter rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Ceralyte, and Infalyte are also good electrolyte sources and are especially recommended for use in children.
Treatment:
In most cases of diarrhea, replacing lost fluid to prevent dehydration is the only treatment necessary. Medicines that stop diarrhea may be helpful, but they are not recommended for people whose diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection or parasite. If you stop the diarrhea before having purged the bacteria or parasite, you will trap the organism in the intestines and prolong the problem. Rather, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics as a first-line treatment. Viral infections are either treated with medication or left to run their course, depending on the severity and type of virus.
Avoid giving children medications to treat diarrhea in adults as this can be potentially dangerous for children and should only be given with a doctor’s guidance.
Tips About Food
Until diarrhea subsides, try to avoid giving children caffeine, milk products, and foods that are greasy, high in fiber, or very sweet. These foods tend to aggravate diarrhea.
As you improve, you can add soft, bland foods to your diet, including bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots, and baked chicken without the skin or fat. For children, the pediatrician may also recommend a bland diet. Once the diarrhea has stopped, the pediatrician will likely encourage children to return to a normal and healthy diet if it can be tolerated.
Avoid giving children medications used to treat diarrhea in adults as this can be potentially dangerous for children and should only be given with a doctor’s guidance.
Related Articles:
Diarrhea: Causes, Signs and Symptoms, and Treatment
Dehydration
References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 07–2749, March 2007
Digestive Diseases Dictionary. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 07–2749, March 2007
This Topic Last Revised: August 2, 2012
Children can have acute and chronic forms of diarrhea. Acute diarrhea is a common problem that usually lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own without special treatment. Prolonged diarrhea persisting for more than 2 days may be a sign of a more serious problem and poses the risk of dehydration. Chronic diarrhea may be a feature of an underlying chronic disease.
Causes
Some of the common causes of diarrhea in children include bacteria, viruses, parasites, medications, functional bowel disorders, and food sensitivities. Infection with the rotavirus is the most common cause of acute childhood diarrhea. Rotavirus diarrhea usually resolves in 3 to 9 days. Children who are 6 to 32 weeks old can be vaccinated against the virus with a vaccine called Rotateq.
Diarrhea is especially dangerous in newborns and infants, leading to dehydration in just a day or two. Dehydration results in loss of fluid and important salts and minerals. A child can die from dehydration within a few days. Dehydration must be treated promptly to avoid serious health problems. If your child has diarrhea, do not hesitate to call the doctor for advice.
Take your child to the doctor if there is no improvement after 24 hours or if any of the following symptoms appear:
- stools containing blood or pus
- black stools
- a temperature above 102 degrees
- signs of dehydration.
Signs of dehydration in children may include the following
- dry mouth and tongue
- no tears when crying
- no wet diapers for 3 hours or more
- sunken abdomen, eyes, or cheeks
- high fever
- listlessness or irritability
- skin that does not flatten when pinched and released
To prevent dehydration, the fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly because the body cannot function without them. Electrolytes are the salts and minerals that affect the amount of water in your body, muscle activity, and other important functions.
Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. Broth and soups that contain sodium, and fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables that contain potassium, help restore electrolyte levels. Over-the-counter rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Ceralyte, and Infalyte are also good electrolyte sources and are especially recommended for use in children.
Treatment:
In most cases of diarrhea, replacing lost fluid to prevent dehydration is the only treatment necessary. Medicines that stop diarrhea may be helpful, but they are not recommended for people whose diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection or parasite. If you stop the diarrhea before having purged the bacteria or parasite, you will trap the organism in the intestines and prolong the problem. Rather, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics as a first-line treatment. Viral infections are either treated with medication or left to run their course, depending on the severity and type of virus.
Avoid giving children medications to treat diarrhea in adults as this can be potentially dangerous for children and should only be given with a doctor’s guidance.
Tips About Food
Until diarrhea subsides, try to avoid giving children caffeine, milk products, and foods that are greasy, high in fiber, or very sweet. These foods tend to aggravate diarrhea.
As you improve, you can add soft, bland foods to your diet, including bananas, plain rice, boiled potatoes, toast, crackers, cooked carrots, and baked chicken without the skin or fat. For children, the pediatrician may also recommend a bland diet. Once the diarrhea has stopped, the pediatrician will likely encourage children to return to a normal and healthy diet if it can be tolerated.
Avoid giving children medications used to treat diarrhea in adults as this can be potentially dangerous for children and should only be given with a doctor’s guidance.
Related Articles:
Diarrhea: Causes, Signs and Symptoms, and Treatment
Dehydration
References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Diarrhea. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 07–2749, March 2007
Digestive Diseases Dictionary. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 07–2749, March 2007
This Topic Last Revised: August 2, 2012
