In developing countries, infant diarrhea is the leading cause of death. Even in a first-world country, such as the United States of America, it does carry risks if not treated promptly.
Causes of infant diarrhea
The causes of infant diarrhea vary widely. Considering that babies will stick anything and almost everything into their mouths, the odds of ingesting harmful microbes and parasites are good. Viruses are also a good guess, and rotavirus in particular is well known for being present in infant stool samples.
When in daycare or nursery it is not uncommon for a worker to change a plethora of diapers in succession, and gloves are not always used or changed. Hand washing – though indicated – is not a protocol always followed either, and thus tiny quantities of feces may be transmitted from infant to adult and from adult to infant, completing the chain of infection.
A less severe form of diarrhea may be attributed to a change in diet, which is usually observed in infants who are switching from breast milk to formula or from breast milk or formula to solid foods. Introducing new foods may lead to episodes of diarrhea, as may a change of infant formulas. In some cases bouts of teething are also accompanied by short bouts of diarrhea.
Symptoms of infant diarrhea
While it may be odd to describe the symptoms of infant diarrhea, it bears mentioning that there is a marked difference between bona fide diarrhea and simply a loose stool brought on by overindulgence in prune puree or some fruit gels. Infant diarrhea is usually described as frequently occurring bowel movements that may be somewhat volatile in nature – they are rapidly expelled from the child’s body – and which are mostly liquid with little or no solid mass. It is not unheard of for a child with diarrhea to fill five diapers with fecal matter in a six hour span.
In many cases physicians will suggest that a bout of diarrhea in an otherwise healthy infant may just need to run its course. That said, they will also suggest that infants are watched closely for signs of dehydration and listlessness. Purchasing Pedialyte is highly recommended and when using the unflavored kind it is easily and quickly mixed with formula and the child will not taste the difference.
Some are tempted to give Gatorade or other electrolyte containing sports drinks to little ones, and this is strongly discouraged! In addition to the foregoing, do not give your child Pepto-Bismol and other substances associated with adult diarrhea treatments! Warnings have gone out that have connected these chemicals to sometimes fatal outcomes.
When to see the doctor
Obviously, if you are worried, it is wise to visit the pediatrician sooner rather than later.
Yet there are some other reasons to visit the doctor, one being if the infant diarrhea occurred after the child ingested milk or milk products, as this may be an indicator of lactose intolerance that requires diagnoses.
Furthermore, if you see blood in the diaper, or if your child presents with extreme listlessness and fever, you will be wise to visit either your child’s pediatrician or the nearest emergency room or urgent care facility for further treatment.
Although not a serious condition, the persistent moisture and acidity to which the baby’s tender bottom is exposed may cause a secondary problem: diaper rash. Make sure that you pick up some rash ointment while you are at the store for the Pedialyte!
While it is impossible to completely prevent infant diarrhea, as an adult caregiver you do have the option of greatly curtailing the outbreaks and ensuring proper hydration when they do occur.
