Diarrhea In Toddlers: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, And More

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Written by Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting..

diarrhea in toddler
Diarrhea is one of the most common problems that could happen to a toddler and it is not easy to handle for the parents as well. If you get vexed then that will put your toddler into a serious physical problem. There are various reasons behind your toddler getting caught by diarrhea. But, you need to know how you can this condition of your toddler. In this article, let’s figure out everything that you should know about your toddler’s diarrhea.

What Is Diarrhea?

As per World Health Organization, diarrhea is that condition when your toddler defecates water stools 3 or more times in a day. If your toddler has a paste-like non-watery stool or defecates normal stool multiple times a day then that would not be considered as diarrhea. When diarrhea of your toddler lasts for a few days, it will be called acute diarrhea and if it goes beyond two weeks then it will be called persistent diarrhea.

What Causes Diarrhea In Toddlers?

Infections In The Gastrointestinal Tract: If your toddler consumes contaminated food then that could cause gastrointestinal tract infection.
Food Poisoning: When your toddler consumes stale food then it will cause diarrhea with yellow watery stool and blood.
Fruit Juice: It might sound weird but if your toddler consumes excess fruit juice then it can cause diarrhea.
Food Intolerance: This happens when the digestive system of your toddler is unable to digest a certain food compound. This can also cause diarrhea in your toddler.
Side-Effects Of Antibiotics: Antibiotics can make the digestive system of your toddler weak and thus it can also cause diarrhea.
Appear Subsequent To A Bout Of Gastroenteritis: Gastroenteritis is a viral infection. This occurs in stomach and intestines. Usual signs are fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Even after recuperating from this illness, diarrhoea may remain for a while.
Change In The Intestinal Passage Time: For some toddlers, the foods they eat transmit through the intestine very fast. Due to this, less water is absorbed from the food in the intestine. This can pave the way to diarrhea.
Intestinal Microflora: Micro floras are friendly microbes in the intestine which aids in digestion. There are no particular pattern for this microbes.Its number and type varies among the children. In some toddlers, a group of bacteria that promote looser stools will be more triggering diarrhea.

What Are The Symptoms Of Diarrhea?

While changing the diaper of your toddler, if you see that there are watery stool then that will indicate that your toddler contracted diarrhea.
Abdominal cramps and pain accompanying the loose, watery and foul smelling stools.
Vomiting
Change in appetite
Weight loss or rather poor weight gain

When To Rush Your Toddler To A Doctor?

There are certain situations when your toddler needs immediate medical attention. If you notice any of the following symptoms then you should rush your toddler to a doctor:

A blackish or brownish blood spot in your toddler’s stool
If the toddler gets semi-conscious or drowsy after diarrhea
If the toddler did not pass any urine for about 8 or more hours, then that could be an indication of dehydration as lots of water is lost through the stool.
Steady fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more

If you can take your toddler to the paediatrician in time then that could help you to initiate your toddler’s treatment in time.

How Is Diarrhea In Toddlers Treated?

When it comes to the treatment, it completely depends on the basic cause. Depending on the cause, these are some of the treatment your doctor could prescribe:

ORS: Due to diarrhea, your toddler might face dehydration. Taking small sips of ORS can really help to rehydrate your toddler’s body.
Intravenous Saline: Semi-conscious or drowsy state of your toddler might compel the doctor to administer an intravenous saline solution which will replenish your toddler’s body.
Antibiotics: Doctors could use antibiotics to treat the condition of diarrhea is your toddler is facing short-term diarrhea.

What Are The Complications Of Diarrhea In Toddlers?

Diarrhea leads to dehydration in your toddler and these are some of the signs that will indicate dehydration in your toddler:

Crying without tears
Losing weight rapidly day by day
Steady and high fever
Eyes are getting sunken
Dry mouth
No urination for about 8 hours
Dark and yellowish urine

What Are The Home Remedies For Toddler’s Diarrhea?

Sufficient Water Intake: Apart from giving the prescribed water of the doctor, make sure that your toddler is drinking enough water to replenish the body.
Give Smaller, Simple Meal At Regular Intervals: Give your toddler smaller meals, rather than one large meal, at regular intervals as that will be very easy for your little one’s digestive system to digest.
Breastfeed Your Toddler: You should increase the number of times you breastfeed your toddler when he or she has diarrhea.

What To Feed A Toddler Having Diarrhea?

You try and feed your toddler the following foods:

Meat Broth
Boiled rice
Whole-wheat bread
Boiled or baked potatoes
Boiled chicken
Bananas
Applesauce
Liquid desserts like sherbets and ice-popsicles
Pureed vegetables like zucchini, squash, beetroot, carrots, and mushrooms

What Are The Foods To Avoid During Toddler’s Diarrhea?

These are some of the foods that you cannot give to your toddler when he or she is facing diarrhea:

Milk (only breast milk is allowed)
Butter, cheese, and various other dairy products
Cakes, pastries, cream biscuits, and various other food that are high in sugar content
Vegetables that can form gas, such as, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and many others
All types of fruit juices

How To Prevent Diarrhea In Toddlers?

Maintaining Good Hygiene: There many viruses that cause diarrhea. These viruses are mostly transmitted due to the bad hygiene of a person. Therefore, keep your surrounding fresh and clean and also make sure that you clean your toddler’s toys from time to time.
Train Your Toddler To Keep The Hand Clean: By building useful and hygienic habits such as washing the hands can prevent your toddler from getting caught by diarrhea in the near future.
Vaccinate In Time: There are some viruses that can cause diarrhea. To stop this, make sure you vaccinate your toddler in time.

Conclusion
Every parent would want to keep their child safe and secured. Diarrhea can happen to your toddler at any time. Keep the aforementioned information in mind to take proper actions against diarrhea.

Editorial Team,

With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.

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