Diarrhea in babies is often caused by infections of viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi and occurs when there are at least 3 bowel movements with soft or liquid stools within a 24-hour period.
To find out if the baby really has diarrhea, you can check the diaper to see if the coconut is more liquid than normal, if the color is different from usual or if the smell is stronger, similar to that of a rotten egg, for example. It is also important to check whether there is the presence of blood or mucus in the baby’s stool, changes in breathing or colder feet or hands, as these are signs that may indicate greater urgency.
To treat your baby’s diarrhea, it is important to consult your pediatrician and continue breastfeeding, or infant formula, as well as complementary foods, if the child is over 6 months old, to avoid malnutrition and dehydration. The pediatrician may also prescribe homemade serum, antibiotics and/or probiotic supplements to improve the infection and rebalance the child’s intestinal flora.
How to know if your baby has diarrhea
To know if your baby has diarrhea, some characteristics must be observed, such as:
- 3 or more liquid bowel movements;
- Different color than usual;
- Stronger smell, especially when caused by gastroenteritis;
- The diaper does not contain the feces, so they come out and stain the baby’s clothes.
In addition, the baby may be more irritable than normal, may reject food or feed little and may have other symptoms, such as fever, abdominal pain and/or vomiting. Furthermore, it is important to be aware of signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth and lips, irritability or having fewer tears when crying, for example.
What can cause diarrhea in a baby
Normally, when diarrhea lasts up to 14 days, the main causes are the ingestion of spoiled food or infections caused by worms, viruses or bacteria, which are known as gastroenteritis. Understand more about diarrhea caused by viruses.
However, when they occur for more than 14 days, the main causes of diarrhea may be lactose intolerance, gluten allergy or intolerance, use of antibiotics or some intestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
Could it be COVID-19?
Although infection with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is less common in babies, it has been observed that children may present some symptoms similar to a virus, including diarrhea. Therefore, if the baby has diarrhea or any other symptom, such as fever, vomiting or decreased hunger, it is important to take the child to an appointment with the pediatrician who will carry out an appropriate assessment. Better understand the symptoms and treatment of COVID-19 in babies and children.
How to treat baby diarrhea
It is important that parents or guardians take the baby to the pediatrician to identify the possible cause of diarrhea and start the most appropriate treatment. However, there are some precautions, especially with diet, that can be started at home and that will help prevent dehydration, weight loss and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
1. Feeding a baby with diarrhea
To treat a baby with diarrhea, it is important to maintain the child’s usual meal. If the baby is under 6 months old and exclusively breastfed, it is important to only keep breast milk on demand, which is when the baby wants to breastfeed. So, how important it is to only keep infant formula and water for babies who are not breastfeeding. Know when to give and how much water is recommended for babies.
In the case of babies who are 6 months or older, it is important to continue with breast milk on demand, or infant formula, and complement their diet with porridge made with natural fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes and proteins. See how to maintain a balanced diet for babies up to 1 year old.
During a diarrhea attack, it is common for the baby to not be very hungry. Therefore, it is recommended to offer food in smaller portions, but more frequently throughout the day, respecting the child’s wishes.
In addition, it may be necessary to give homemade serum, as diarrhea causes the child to lose a lot of fluids through feces, which can lead to dehydration. The amount of serum recommended by the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics for babies under 1 year of age is 50 to 100 ml after each diarrhea bowel movement. For babies aged 1 to 2 years, the recommendation is 100 to 200 ml of homemade serum.
2. Remedies for baby diarrhea
After evaluating the possible causes of diarrhea, the pediatrician may recommend medications such as analgesics for the baby to relieve pain and discomfort, and reduce the fever, if the child presents one of these symptoms. The use of antibiotics may also be necessary if diarrhea is caused by bacteria.
The pediatrician may also recommend the use of probiotic supplements, which are beneficial bacteria used to rebalance the intestinal flora of the intestine, helping the baby to recover faster.
When to go to the doctor
Parents or guardians should take their baby to the doctor if they have the following symptoms:
- More than 3 episodes of diarrhea on the same day;
- If the baby is less participative and very sleepy during the day;
- If the diarrhea is very intense and there are no signs of improvement within 2 days;
- If you notice diarrhea with mucus or blood;
- If you feel very thirsty and have a decrease in urine volume;
- If the baby refuses to feed;
- If you have changes in breathing and heartbeat;
- If the child has cold hands and feet;
- If you have other symptoms such as vomiting and fever above 38 ºC.
It is common for viruses to cause vomiting, diarrhea and fever in babies, but these symptoms can also appear in cases of intolerance or allergies to a food, for example. Understand better the symptoms of food allergies in babies.
