Diarrhea is defined clinically as having loose, watery stools more than three times per day, states the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, adding that children in the United States typically suffer seven to 15 episodes of acute diarrhea by the time they are 5 years old. Diarrhea in children can cause mild to severe dehydration, a complication that should be treated as soon as possible. Recognizing the possible causes of diarrhea in babies aids physicians in choosing the proper treatment.
Antibiotics
Broad-spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin can cause diarrhea in babies, reports the Merck Manuals. The antibiotics usually irritate the tissues of the digestive system and may cause an imbalance of the beneficial organisms that live within the human bowels. Diarrhea due to antibiotics resolves once the child is no longer given the antibiotic. As long as the diarrhea is tolerable, the antibiotic can be continued, but if the infant begins to show signs of dehydration, a new treatment regimen should be administered.
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is a species of virus that can cause viral enteritis, or inflammation of the digestive system caused by a viral agent. A rotavirus infection is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in babies, states the KidsHealth website. Diarrhea caused by a rotavirus is commonly seen during the winter and early spring months, and presents as explosive, extremely watery diarrhea. Severe cases of this type of diarrhea may require hospitalization. Fortunately, a vaccine has been developed that will prevent many cases of rotavirus in infants.
Chronic Intestinal Diseases
Chronic diseases of the digestive system may cause chronic cases of diarrhea, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Diseases that may cause diarrhea in infants include colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and Crohn’s disease. These diseases cause damage to the tissues of the intestines and often prevent the absorption of nutrients. This causes more water and food to be contained in the stool, and increases the frequency and urge to defecate. Treating the underlying disease often relives the diarrhea.
Parasites
Parasites are a common cause of diarrhea in children, reports the Merck Manuals. Parasites such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are some of the more common parasites that infect infants and cause diarrhea. Symptoms of a parasitic infection include abdominal cramping and bloating, anorexia and the frequent production of watery, foul-smelling stools. In order to diagnose the disease, clinicians perform a microscopic examination of the patient’s stool and look for parasite eggs or the parasites themselves. These parasites can infect a baby through exposure to a contaminated water source.
