An important job of any mother is recognizing when her child is sick and needs medical care. Diarrhea is common in newborn babies, but it may be challenging to determine if a bowel movement is diarrhea or just the normally loose stool of infants. Diarrhea has many causes, but it is usually not a serious health concern in the United States. Still, parents must know the normal course of the condition and when to contact a health care professional.
Description
Infants typically produce loose, poorly formed stools, says the website BabyCenter. Babies also have frequent bowel movements---as often as after every feeding. Occasional looser than normal stool is no cause for concern. Diarrhea is a change in the frequency and consistency of the baby's bowel movements and is marked by bowel movements occurring one and a half to twice as frequently as usual, with stools that appear runny, watery or greenish in color.
Causes
Diarrhea in infants has many causes, according to BabyCenter. A change in diet of either the infant or mother if the infant is breastfeeding, too much fruit juice or sweetened drinks, or antibiotics are common causes. Diarrhea may be a symptom of a bacterial or viral infection, intestinal parasites or an ear infection. In older babies who are eating solid foods, diarrhea may be a sign of a food allergy or sensitivity.
Dehydration
Dehydration is the most serious risk associated with diarrhea in infants, warns BabyCenter, although dehydration is uncommon in the United States. Symptoms of dehydration include absence of urine for more than six hours, crying without tears and dry mouth. Give your child plenty of fluids or an electrolyte solution. Avoid fluids containing sugar, including sports drinks and ginger ale, because sugar draws water into the intestines. While your infant has diarrhea, weigh him every morning, suggests AskDrSears.com. A 5 percent decrease in your infant's weight over a few days is a sign of mild to moderate dehydration, and a 10 percent decrease signifies severe dehydration.
Normal Course
Loose stools that last for a day or even several days should not raise alarm as long as the child acts well and has no fever, abdominal pain or other symptoms, says AskDrSears.com. Keep a daily record of your baby's bowel habits and note your baby's weight, stool characteristics, frequency of bowel movements, treatments, appetite and overall disposition. If your child does not appear to be improving, see your health care provider. Diarrhea may last for weeks because the intestines take time to heal completely. If your baby has no fever or pain and shows improvement in appetite and appears well, she is likely recovering from the diarrhea.
Considerations
Seek emergency medical attention if in addition to diarrhea your infant shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as convulsions, loss of consciousness or a swollen face, recommends BabyCenter. Also seek immediate medical attention if your infant has a fever higher than 100 degrees if he is younger than 3 months of age, or higher than 101 degrees if he is 3 to 6 months of age. Consult your health care provider if your infant fails to improve after 24 hours, has bloody or black stools, is vomiting or shows signs of dehydration. Never give your child antidiarrheal medications unless specifically prescribed by your physician.
