Childhood diarrhea occurs when the child has more than 3 bowel movements during the day, which is common in infants due to viruses. To find out if your baby has diarrhea, consider the consistency of poop in the diaper because in case of diarrhea, stool has the following characteristics:
It is normal for a baby’s poop under 6 months of age to have a pasty consistency, being quite different from that of an adult. But normally, the baby looks healthy and although it is not well-formed as an adult’, it is located in an area of the diaper. In case of diarrhea, this does not happen and poop spreads to all genitals and drips, soiling clothes. However, normal stools can also leak, so it’s not always easy to know if your baby has diarrhea, if he or she doesn’t have other signs and symptoms.
Parents should take the baby to the pediatrician if the following symptoms occur:
Viruses commonly cause vomiting, diarrhea and fever in infants, but these symptoms can also occur when the baby eats food for the first time, for example, due to intolerances or allergies, so they should always be evaluated by the doctor.
Viruses, which also cause vomiting, fever and loss of appetite, are the main causes of diarrhea in babies. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is common in infants younger than 1 year old, even if they have been vaccinated, and the main feature is rotten egg-scented diarrhea.
Some babies also have diarrhea at birth, which is not a major concern.
When diarrhea is caused by a virus, it can last more than 5 days and the bottom can be roasted, red and some blood may come out. So when your baby has diarrhea, you should change his or her diaper as soon as it’s dirty. Parents should apply an ointment against diaper rash and keep the baby always clean and comfortable so that they can rest and recover more quickly.
Diarrhoea attacks usually go away on their own within 5 to 8 days, but in all cases it is necessary to take the baby to the pediatrician so that the baby can assess and indicate medication use, if necessary.
To care for the child suffering from diarrhea, parents should give them light meals, with cooked foods such as rice porridge, vegetable puree with cooked chicken and grated, for example. During this time, the baby doesn’t need to eat much and it’s better to eat less, but more often.
Foods that should not be given to a baby with diarrhea are high in fiber, such as cereals and unpeeled fruits. Chocolate, sodas, cow’s milk, cheese, sauces and frying are also not recommended, so as not to stimulate the intestine too much, making it difficult to cure diarrhea.
The baby should drink many fluids, such as water, coconut water, tea, or natural juices, because it’s through stools that the child loses fluids and can become dehydrated. In some cases, it may be necessary to donate a homemade serum or a serum purchased from a pharmacy. See the homemade serum recipe to prepare in the right way.
Medications to stop your baby’s diarrhea are not recommended, so you should never give medications such as Imosec to children under 2 years of age. Your pediatrician may only recommend medications such as acetaminophen in the form of syrup to relieve pain and discomfort, and lower fever if these symptoms are present.
Another remedy that may be indicated to replenish the bacterial flora of the baby’s intestine and that helps him recover more quickly are probiotics like Floratil, for example.
To care for the child with childhood diarrhea, a home remedy can be prepared to help trap the intestine, thus alleviing this discomfort. Therefore, you can make chamomile tea several times a day, but rice water is also an excellent choice. Simply soak the rice in clean water for 10 minutes, then wash the rice in that water and drink this whitish water throughout the day.