Diarrhea is when you pass stool many times a day, and it is watery, runny, and loose. (Passing stool is called having a “bowel movement.”)
Diarrhea is one way your child’s body fights infection. Diarrhea can also clean out your child’s intestines when he or she eats something bad. Children get diarrhea often, especially mild diarrhea.
Causes
Breastfed babies have many soft bowel movements in a day. They may pass stool every time they eat. Twelve or more bowel movements a day is OK. This is not diarrhea. Bottle-fed babies don’t have as many bowel movements. Even so, 1 or 2 loose stools is not diarrhea. In a baby, diarrhea is many very runny bowel movements.
Infection by viruses, bacteria, or parasites (A virus is the most common cause. Your child may also throw up, have a fever, have a runny nose, and/or feel very tired. Children can catch these viruses at school or daycare.)
Eating too much of foods they are not used to.
Food poisoning.
Allergies, such as milk allergy.
Taking too many laxatives. (Example: Teens trying to lose weight sometimes take laxatives.)
Taking some medicines. (Example: Antibiotics.)
Getting upset.
Drinking bad water or food while traveling.
Catching an infection from someone else who has been traveling.
Watch out for dehydration. Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough water. This is very important if your child is throwing up, too. Dehydration can happen very fast in babies and young children.
Self-Care
Signs of Dehydration
Thirsty
Dry mouth and dry skin
Dry diaper or passed little or no urine
Confused or dizzy
Weak or has a weak cry
If Your Child Shows Signs of Dehydration
Get medical care fast.
Stop solid foods. Give clear liquids. Give the liquids the doctor tells you to give.
For bottle-fed babies and children under 2, give over-the-counter mixtures like Pedialyte®. They have the right amount of water, minerals, and sugar to help with dehydration.
For breastfed babies, nurse the baby. But give only as much breast milk as the baby wants. Feed every 2 hours. Ask the baby’s doctor about giving water and over-the-counter mixtures.
For children over age 2, give up to 6 cups of liquid per day. Good choices are:
Over-the-counter mixtures, like Pedialyte®.
Milk.
Water, but don’t give just water. Give other clear liquids, too.
Don’t give your child very cold or hot liquids or boiled milk.
Don’t give your child liquids with lots of sugar, like soft drinks, gelatins, grape juice, and apple juice. These can make the diarrhea worse.
Don’t give just clear liquids for more than 24 hours. Start normal meals within 12 hours.
If There Are No Signs of Dehydration
Feed your child normal meals. Your child may want to eat smaller amounts than normal.
Don’t give fatty or fried foods, or full-strength fruit juice.
Don’t give your child foods that upset their stomach.
Don’t feed your child just a B.R.A.T. diet. This was an old way to treat diarrhea. B.R.A.T. stands for ripe Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and dry Toast. It is OK to give your child these foods with other ones, though.
Don’t let your child exercise too hard until the diarrhea is all gone.
Don’t give your child Kaopectate® or other over-the-counter medicines to stop diarrhea unless your child’s doctor says it’s OK. And, don’t give your child Pepto-Bismol®. Like aspirin, Pepto-Bismol® has salicylates which have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome, a condition that can kill.
To keep diarrhea germs from spreading, follow these tips:
Make sure your child washes his or her hands after using the toilet
Give your child paper towels to dry their hands
Have everyone at home wash their hands often, so the infection doesn’t spread
Wash your hands after changing diapers or washing your child
Steps to Avoid Food Poisoning
Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before you handle food or items used to prepare foods.
Use clean tools and surfaces when you prepare foods.
Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and fish away from other foods, utensils, and serving plates.
Wash your hands after you touch or prepare raw meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, or eggs. Wash the items used to prepare these foods, too. Use hot soapy water or put them in the dishwasher.
Don’t mix raw foods with cooked and ready-to-eat foods when you shop, prepare, and store foods.
Store foods that can spoil in the refrigerator. Use refrigerated leftovers within 3 to 4 days.
Don’t eat raw eggs or eggs that aren’t cooked enough. Don’t eat foods with raw eggs like cookie batter.
Cook foods to a safe temperature.
Keep hot foods hot (higher than 140°F) and cold foods cold (40°F or lower).
Ask the doctor about the rotavirus vaccine if your child has not yet received it.
Triage Questions
Question 1
Is the person with diarrhea a baby or young child? Does the baby or child have any of these problems with the diarrhea?
