What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is when stools (bowel movements) are loose and watery. Your child may also need to go to the bathroom more often. Diarrhea is a common problem. It may last 1 or 2 days and go away on its own. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days, your child may have a more serious problem.
Diarrhea may be either:
- Short-term (acute). Diarrhea that lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away. This may be caused by food or water that was contaminated by bacteria (bacterial infection). Or it may happen if your child gets sick from a virus.
- Long-term (chronic). Diarrhea that lasts for a few weeks.
What are the symptoms of diarrhea?
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They can include:
- Cramping
- Belly (abdominal) pain
- Swelling (bloating)
- Upset stomach (nausea)
- Urgent need to use the bathroom
- Fever
- Bloody stools
- Loss of body fluids (dehydration)
- Incontinence
Why is it important to treat diarrhea?
In most cases, diarrhoea eases and goes within several days but sometimes takes longer. The main risk is lack of fluid in the body (dehydration). The main treatment is to give your child lots to drink; this may be by giving special rehydration drinks. Also, once any dehydration is treated with drinks, encourage your child to eat as normally as possible.
When to see a doctor?
The following is a list of signs and symptoms that are worrisome and require immediate medical attention:
● Bloody diarrhea
● Refusal to eat or drink anything for more than a few hours in infants and for more than eight hours in children
● Moderate to severe dehydration
● Abdominal pain that comes and goes or is severe
● Behavior changes, including lethargy or decreased responsiveness
● Intense, repeated vomiting
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diarrhea-in-children
https://patient.info/childrens-health/acute-diarrhoea-in-children
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-diarrhea-in-children-beyond-the-basics#H111381099