Diarrhoea

Diarrhea is a condition where the baby's intestines do not absorb the water content and it is discharged along with the stools.

The symptoms of diarrhea are:

• Frequent passing of stools (say more than 7 or 8 times in a day).

• The stools are large and watery.

• The baby passes little or no urine.

• The baby feels drowsy and sleeps more.

Causes of diarrhea:

• Infections

• Certain medicines and antibiotics (even if taken by the mother in  case she is breast-feeding)

• Excess heat

• Milk and milk products (causes lactose intolerance)

• Other functional diseases of the stomach and intestines

• Unknown reasons

Treatment of diarrhea:

• Primarily the water content in the baby's body should be replaced. Give her plenty of liquids fortified with minerals and vitamins. There are products such as Electral available in the pharmacies.

• If you are still breast-feeding her, do not stop unless her pediatrician asks you to do so.

• If the stools look uniformly watery and does not have any foul odour, and she passes them is small quantities, it is probably because of excess heat. Apply some coconut oil over her tummy and continue to give her liquids.

• If her diarrhea persists for over 24 hours, seek medical help. Normally stool samples are collected and cultured to confirm the reason for the diarrhea and treatment is given accordingly.

• In the case of an infection, medication is prescribed along with administration of fluids. If it is lactose intolerance, milk in any form has to stop. However, breast-feeding may continue unless her pediatrician asks you to stop.

• Rarely, there are cases where diarrhea persists despite all forms of treatment. Children continue to have it for weeks, months, even years. But even then, it should be ensured that the child does not get dehydrated, gets nutrition and gains weight.

• Do not give the baby heavy feeds although you may realize that she gets very hungry at these times. Give her small feeds and lessen the pressure on her intestines so that it helps her retain the feed better and lessen the frequency of diarrhea.

• Keep administering a few spoonfuls of fluids every 10-15 minutes.

• If the causes are functional disorders of the stomach and intestines, then strictly adhere to medical advice according to her case.

   

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