Duration
The duration of diarrheal diseases in young children can vary greatly. This depends primarily on the underlying cause. An acute diarrhea, which is viral (e.g. caused by rotaviruses), can unfortunately last quite long and only subside completely after two to three weeks. In most cases, however, the diarrhea lasts for a little over a week. All in all, the actual duration of diarrheal diseases is usually difficult to predict, especially for small children.
Is diarrhea infectious in infants?
It is not always possible to say with certainty whether a diarrhea disease is contagious, this depends on the trigger of the diarrhea. If the diarrhea is caused by an infection, it is contagious, but if the child has diarrhea due to food intolerance, the diarrhea is not contagious. In general, however, it should be assumed that it is indeed contagious, as it can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections.
In the case of a noro- or rotavirus infection, the stool (and also the vomit) is even very infectious. For this reason, basic hygiene measures are highly recommended for every diarrhea! This includes first of all frequent hand washing, especially before preparing food. In addition, frequently touched surfaces, such as taps and door handles, can be cleaned to prevent the spread of diarrhoea pathogens through smear infections.
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