Diarrhea is the production of loose and watery stools. Patients with diarrhea often pass stool much more frequently than normal and pass large amounts of stool and water. Diarrhea typically lasts one to two days and then resolves without treatment. If diarrhea persists, dehydration may be a complication.
Diarrhea in infants is usually difficult to detect because their stool is normally soft and loose. Furthermore, babies typically pass stool frequently. The common signs of diarrhea in infants include a significant increase in defecation, more than one episode of defecation per feeding and extremely watery stools. Determining the cause of the diarrhea helps determine the treatment the child should receive.
Viruses
Viral gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu, is a common cause of diarrhea in infants, according to Kids Health. Many different viruses cause this disease. Children usually contract the virus in school or day care because the virus easily passes from child to child. The most common virus that causes diarrhea is the rotavirus. Rotavirus infection causes an explosive, watery diarrhea. The virus usually presents in winter and spring and has caused large outbreaks of diarrhea in children. If the child has a serious infection, she will require hospitalization. There is a vaccine for the rotavirus that prevents 75 percent of cases.
Bacterial Infection
Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial infections, reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Several bacteria cause diarrhea in infants: campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, and Escherichia coli. These organisms are commonly transmitted through contaminated water or food. The bacteria are found in infected stool. If even small amounts of the infected stool contaminate food or beverages that a child ingests, he will develop diarrhea. The diarrhea can spontaneously resolve, but if the condition persists, antibiotics may be necessary to treat the infant.
Parasitic Infection
Parasites that infect the digestive system of an infant can cause diarrhea, states Kids Health. The most common parasites that have been linked to diarrhea in infants are giardia and cryptosporidium. These parasites are most commonly transmitted in water that has been contaminated with the parasites. The giardia parasite causes the disease called giardiasis. This disease is easily spread in day care, water parks and pools. The giardia parasite is resistant to chlorine treatment. Cryptosporidium can cause diarrhea epidemics in day care and other public places. The diarrhea caused by this parasite is often watery and typically lasts for two or more weeks.
