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Diarrhoea is relatively common in young children and usually passes naturally after a day or two, however if your baby
is under 3 months it is best to see your G.P. as they can dehydrate very quickly. If you are worried or the problem is serve
or carries on more than a couple of days always seek medical advice.
Causes
There are many possible causes of diarrhoea, including food poisoning, but the most common in children is a viral infection,
such as gastroenteritis. In some toddlers with chronic diarrhoea it turns out to be as simple as they are drinking too much
fruit juice. Like vomiting, diarrhoea can accompany many infections, both bacterial and viral. Other causes of chronic diarrhoea
include Giardia, coeliac disease, apendicitus and other less common conditions. In many toddlers, no cause for the diarrhoea
is found.
Treatment
Where your child is suffering from a mild case of diarrhoea the most important thing to remember is that your child has
enough to drink. Your doctor or pharmacist may prescribe or suggest an oral preparation that can be used to rehydrate
your child but always follow the instructions carefully. If you have a young baby who is breast or bottle fed, you should
continue to feed but offer extra fluid between feeds. For older children food can generally be given after one to two days,
especially if your child is hungry. It is generally best to start with bland foods such as plain biscuits, bread, rice, potato
or jelly.
Disclaimer
All content within Childhood illnesses is provided for general information only, and should not be
treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Tiny Little monster
is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of this site. Tiny Little Monster or Lavenmedia
are not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service
mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your or your childs
health.
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