Diarrhea is not uncommon in babies. In most cases, it is caused by a gastrointestinal infection.
What characterizes diarrhea in babies?
Diarrhea in babies is noticeable by a mushy, thin consistency of the stool. Likewise, liquid spurting stools may occur. Diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of illness in both babies and young children. Whether it is actually diarrhea depends on the age of the child. Diarrhea in babies is said to occur when they have liquid bowel movements at least five times a day, whereas in toddlers this is only the case three times. Diarrhea in babies is noticeable by a mushy, thin consistency of the stool. Likewise, liquid spurting stools may occur. If the diarrhea lasts two weeks, it is called acute diarrhea; if it lasts longer, it is chronic diarrhea. Normally, diarrhea in babies is not a major problem. However, if the baby loses too much fluid, there is a risk of dehydration (dehydration).
Cause
The main cause of diarrhea in babies is primarily viral and bacterial infections. Their occurrence is not unusual, because the defense system of the child gets it in the first period of life with particularly many germs to do, which in turn is noticeable by acute diarrhea. With a share of around 40 percent, rotaviruses are the main triggers of acute intestinal infections. Adenoviruses and noroviruses are also numerous, as are bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, staphylococci and salmonellae. However, there are other possible causes of diarrhea in babies. These include intolerances to certain foods, food poisoning, and side effects of medications such as antibiotics. In addition, underlying diseases such as a urinary tract infection, pneumonia or otitis media can also result in diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea rarely occurs in babies. However, if diarrhea persists, it may indicate diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease (gluten intolerance), ulcerative colitis, lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome. In the case of celiac disease, the baby suffers from changeable diarrhea accompanied by a severely distended abdomen. In the case of lactose intolerance, other symptoms such as nausea and flatulence are also present. Another possible accompanying symptom of diarrhea is fever.
Diseases with this symptom
- Gastrointestinal flu
- Common cold
- Food intolerance
- Noroviruses
- Irritable bowel
- Celiac disease
- Lactose intolerance
- Bacterial infection
- Food poisoning
- Drug allergy
- Rotavirus infection
- Salmonella poisoning
Diagnosis and course of the disease
If a doctor must be consulted because of diarrhea, he will need some information from the parents about the baby’s symptoms. Thus, he wants to know how long the diarrhea has lasted, what is the consistency and color of the stool, and whether relatives or other contacts also suffer from diarrhea symptoms. It is also important to know if the baby is taking any medications. To determine any weight loss, the doctor weighs the baby. In addition, the baby’s abdomen is palpated. It is further important to check the fluid balance of the little patient. In some cases, taking a stool culture may be useful. This is done if there is a suspicion of a certain disease or if there has been a trip with the baby beforehand. During the examination, a stool sample from the child is placed in a plastic container, which is then examined in a laboratory. There, the doctors analyze the sample for bacteria and parasites. If the diarrhea is severe, a sonography (ultrasound examination), a blood test or a colonoscopy (colonoscopy) may also be performed. In most babies, acute diarrhea goes away on its own after a short time. If the baby only suffers from diarrhea, an adequate supply of fluids is sufficient. Breastfeeding babies should receive their mother’s breast as often as possible during this period.
Complications
Most adults hardly take short-lasting diarrhea seriously, and they are right to do so, because for them it disappears on its own and usually does not leave any significant damage. In babies, however, diarrhea is always serious because their bodies are still much smaller and immature and thus can be very sensitive to even minor dehydration. It is therefore advisable to always take diarrhea in babies seriously and to present the child to the pediatrician at the latest if the diarrhea has not improved on its own within hours. Otherwise, there is a risk that the baby’s diarrhea will continue for the next few hours and that he or she will become dangerously dehydrated or that there is actually a cause that is dangerous for the baby. Even a minor gastrointestinal infection can be a dangerous condition for a baby, as its body can handle far less dehydration than that of an adult. Since the baby is certainly not well with diarrhea, another complication is that he or she refuses to eat or drink because of it. Older babies may not need to drink every few hours, but for infants in the first few months of life, it is still quite important. If infants with diarrhea do not allow themselves to be put on at all or refuse the bottle, a doctor must be consulted for this reason as well, as it makes them even weaker and unable to replace the lost fluids.
When should you go to the doctor?
Babies and young children are especially likely to be affected by diarrhea. And the younger the child, the faster he or she becomes dehydrated. Pediatricians recommend that affected families ask the pediatrician for advice early on, especially in the case of a sick infant. If fever and vomiting accompany diarrhea, this may be a sign that medical treatment may be needed. Either a sunken or tense fontanel (the opening in the skull bone at the top of the baby’s head) may indicate insufficient fluid intake or a serious infection in the little patient. If the sick infant cries shrilly and pulls his little legs to his stomach more often, he may have abdominal pain, which a pediatrician should clarify, especially in connection with the existing diarrhea. Sick infants who refuse to take in fluids belong in the competent care of a pediatrician, as do small patients who are conspicuous with bloody stools. To guide when a baby with diarrhea should be seen by a doctor, the following rule applies: if an infant has more than four watery diarrhea episodes in 24 hours or if diarrhea and vomiting do not improve after about six hours, the baby may need medical attention. At the latest, it becomes dangerous after a loss of ten percent of the body weight. The pediatrician now recommends inpatient care at the children’s hospital. If the baby becomes seriously ill at night or on the weekend, parents have access to the pediatric emergency service or the emergency outpatient clinic of a children’s hospital.
Treatment and therapy
The most important treatment point for a baby’s diarrhea is to compensate for fluid loss, which is very high during this period. If the child receives replacement food instead of the mother’s breast, it is recommended to give him thin tea with a little sugar and salt every six to eight hours. If the child is a little older, he or she is also given plenty of fluids instead of solid food. Fennel tea or chamomile tea with a little salt and sugar are recommended. Fruit juices such as apricot or banana and salted broths are a good way to compensate for the loss of electrolytes and nutrients. Following this, the child should be given foods that are low in fat and easy to digest. Special electrolyte-glucose drinking solutions are also available in pharmacies. These contain all the important minerals in addition to sugar and water. The solution should be administered as early as possible. For the appropriate degree of dilution, it is important to follow the instructions for use of the solution carefully. If the diarrhea is caused by a food intolerance, the baby must avoid the foods that trigger it. If it is an allergy to cow’s milk and the mother is still breastfeeding her child, it is advisable of her to avoid the milk as well. If, on the other hand, certain medications are responsible for the diarrhea, they should be discontinued after consultation with the doctor. If the baby is already suffering from dehydration, it is important to give him fluids and electrolytes quickly.If necessary, the substances are administered by stomach tube. In rare cases, the child receives intravenous isotonic saline.
Outlook and prognosis
Diarrhea in the baby associated with fever suggests infection. With an appropriate intake of fluids (water and tea) to balance the electrolyte balance and fluid loss, improvement usually occurs after a fairly short time. This also applies to diarrhea in the baby that has been triggered by medication or also a trip or a changed environment. With a sufficient supply of fluids, the symptoms usually improve quickly and are completely gone after one to two days. If the baby’s diarrhea persists for more than six hours, the stool is white in a breastfed child, or if there is a persistent high fever, vomiting diarrhea, or a tense abdominal wall, a visit to the doctor is urgently needed. It may be an infection. Poisoning from spoiled food is also possible. With appropriate medical treatment and hydration, the prognosis is very good and symptoms usually improve after a few days. Diarrhea in the baby without appropriate medical treatment can quickly have dramatic consequences, as dehydration can quickly occur due to the loss of fluids and salts. In extreme cases, this leads to a circulatory collapse and can have fatal consequences.
Prevention
Sometimes it is possible to prevent diarrhea in the baby. For example, many germs that cause gastrointestinal infections are transmitted as a result of smear infection. Consistent hand washing in everyday situations can reduce the risk of infection. There is now also effective vaccination protection against Rota virus infection. To prevent food poisoning, proper food preparation and storage help.
Here’s what you can do yourself
The first response to diarrhea in the baby should be to take the child’s body temperature. If it has a fever or suffers from vomiting in addition to diarrhea, the probability of infection is high. In this case, an examination by a pediatrician should take place as soon as possible. Due to diarrhea, the baby’s body loses a lot of fluid. For this reason, the child should drink a lot. Small amounts at short intervals are recommended. The salt balance must also be regulated. Infants should therefore always continue to be breastfed. Once the switch to bottle feeding has been made, it is recommended that infant milk be dispensed with. Instead, a thin tea (preferably fennel or chamomile) should be administered over a period of six to eight hours. To supplement nutrients, the tea can be fortified with dextrose and a little salt. Alternatively, an electrolyte solution specially formulated for infants and young children can be administered. It is available in powder form and can be dissolved in boiled water or tea. It is advisable to administer the solution with a bottle, as the baby is most likely to take it that way. Special diarrhea foods should be given only after consultation with a medical professional. Hygiene is extremely important in cases of diarrhea. Regular hand washing is essential to prevent infection. Activities such as changing diapers are especially associated with an increased risk of infection.
