How to treat diarrhea

Call your pediatrician right away if:

1. Infants under 3 or 4 months old has diarrhea.

2. Diarrhea persists in infants for 3 days or longer.

3. Diarrhea stools containing blood or pus.

4. Your baby has fever and vomitting.

5. No urine in more than 6 hours.

Signs of dehydration

Dehydration in babies is a serious problem and you should always watch your baby from not getting dehydrated. Here are some signs that your your baby is dehydrated.

• Decreased urination: If your infant has no wet diapers for 4 to 5 hours. Fewer wet infant diapers than usual in a 24 hour period..
• Infant has dry eyes and crying with few tears or no tears.
• High fever
• Sunken abdomen, eyes and cheeks.
• Infant is less active than usual.
• Your baby is thristy
• Dry skin, dry mouth and tongue
• Fatigue

Possible causes of infant diarrhea
1. Bacterial infections: Several types of bacteria consumed through contaminated food and water can cause diarrhea. Common bacteria include Salmonella, Escherichia coli(E.coli), Campylobacter.

2. Many viruses cause infant diarrhea. Some of them are Rotavirus, Herpes simplex virus, Cyptomegalovirus. Rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea in babies and young children. It usually affects children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. When children have rotavirus, their stools contain large numbers of germs. Rotavirus can spread easily. It could spread by coming in contact with an infected diaper and not washing hands properly afterward by touching a toy that has germs on it.

3. Parasites: Parasites can enter the body through foods and water and settle in the digestive system. Parasites that cause infant diarrhea include Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica

4. Reaction to medicines: Antibiotics, blood pressure medications, antacids containing magnesium and cancer drugs can cause infant diarrhea

5. Bowel disorders: Infant diarrhea can be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome.

6. Intestinal diseases like crohn's disease, infalmmatory bowel disease and celiac disease often lead to diarrhea.

7. Teething and change in mother's diet if the baby is breastfed.

Treatment of infant diarrhea
Treatment in infant diarrhea is to give your infant baby a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration. You can give your baby oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replace your infant body fluids that is lost during diarrhea. Follow the following diet plan for your baby during diarrhea.

Diet plan for babies suffering from diarrhea:
1. Strict oral rehydration solution like Pedialyte every 4-6 hours - this is the most important. Do not let your baby dehydrate. Some suggest it is very important to continue breastfeeding. Watch carefully how the baby reacts to milk and decide whether to temporarily stop feeding milk. Sometimes nothing stays in the stomach. We took our baby to the emergency room and they put him on IV fluids. He completely recovered quickly.

2. If you have started giving solids to your baby - You can give bland foods. Give them apple sauce, strained banana, saltines, strained carrots, strained squash, mashed potatoes(no additives), rice cereal and oat meal. You can give toast, crackers, breads, pretzels, rice, mashed potatoes(no additives), noodles(no additives), bananas, apple sauce, carrots, squash, rice krispies, cheerios, oatmeal and yogurt with active cultures.

4. No milk products - consult your pediatrician. Some babies may become lactose intolerant during this time.

5. No oils or butter

6. No spicy foods or sauces until the infant diarrhea subsides.