Diarrhea is the sudden increase in the frequency and looseness of stools. Mild diarrhea is the passage of a few loose or mushy stools. Severe diarrhea is the passage of many watery stools. The best indicator of the severity of the diarrhea is its frequency.
The main complication of diarrhea is dehydration from the loss of too much fluid from the body. Symptoms of dehydration are a dry mouth, the absence of tears, infrequent urination (for example, none in 12Â hours), and a darker, concentrated urine. The main goal of diarrhea treatment is to prevent dehydration.
Diarrhea is usually caused by a viral infection of the lining of the intestines (gastroenteritis). Sometimes it is caused by bacteria or parasites. Occasionally a food allergy or drinking too much fruit juice may cause diarrhea. If your child has just one or two loose stools, the cause is probably something your child ate. A diet of nothing but clear fluids for more than 2Â days may cause green, watery stools (called "starvation stools").
Diarrhea from a viral infection usually lasts several days to 2 weeks, regardless of the type of treatment. The main goal of treatment is to prevent dehydration. Your child needs to drink enough fluids to replace the fluids lost in the diarrhea. Don't expect a quick return to solid stools.
Increased fluids and dietary changes are the main treatment for diarrhea.
Note: One loose stool can mean nothing. Don't start dietary changes until your child has had several loose stools.
Mild diarrhea (loose stools)
Follow a regular diet with a few simple changes:
Severe diarrhea
Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. Offer water and milk. Avoid fruit juices, because they all make diarrhea worse. If your child refuses to eat solid food, give your child milk rather than water.
Keep giving your child food while he has diarrhea. The choice of food is important. Starchy and soft foods are digested best. Good food choices when your child has diarrhea are dried cereals, grains, bread, crackers, rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, and bananas. Pretzels or saltine crackers can help meet your child's need for sodium. Soft-boiled eggs or yogurt are easily digested and provide some protein.
There is no effective, safe drug for diarrhea. Extra fluids and diet therapy work best.
Probiotics contain healthy bacteria (lactobacilli) that can replace unhealthy bacteria in the GI tract.
Yogurt is the easiest source of probiotics. Give your child 2 to 6 ounces (60 to 180 ml) of yogurt twice daily. Today almost all yogurts are “active cultureâ€, which means that they contain live and active bacteria.
Probiotic supplements in granules, tablets, or capsules are also available in health food stores.
Kool-Aid and soda pop should be avoided because they contain no salt and too much sugar. Use only the fluids suggested here.
Fruit juices should be avoided because they are too concentrated and make the diarrhea worse.
The most dangerous myth is that the intestine should be "put to rest." Restricting fluids can cause dehydration.
Diarrhea can be very contagious. Always wash your hands after changing diapers or using the toilet. Children should wash their hands as well. This is crucial for keeping everyone in the family from getting diarrhea.
If your child has vomited more than twice, follow the recommended treatment for vomiting instead of this treatment for diarrhea until your child has gone 8Â hours without vomiting.
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