Diarrhea

What is diarrhea?
Diarrhea is defined either as watery stool or increased frequency (or both) when compared to a normal amount. It is a common problem that may last a few days and disappear on its own.

Diarrhea may be acute (short-term), which is usually related to bacterial or viral infections, or chronic (long-term), which is usually related to functional disorders.

What causes diarrhea?
Diarrhea in children may be caused by a number of conditions:

• bacterial infection
• viral infection
• food intolerances or allergies
• parasites
• reaction to medications

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?
The following are the most common symptoms for diarrhea, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Severe diarrhea may indicate a serious disease, making it important to consult a child's physician if any/all of the following symptoms persist:

• cramping
• abdominal pain
• bloating
• nausea
• urgent need to use the restroom
• fever
• bloody stools

The symptoms of diarrhea may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Warning signs of severe diarrhea:
You should call your pediatrician if your child is less than 6 months of age or has any of the following:

• abdominal pain
• blood in stool
• frequent vomiting
• loss of appetite for liquids
• high fever
• dry, sticky mouth
• weight loss
• urinates less frequently
  (wets fewer than 6 diapers per day)
• frequent diarrhea
• extreme thirst
• no tears when crying

How is diarrhea diagnosed?
In addition to a complete physical examination and laboratory tests for blood and urine, the child's physician may request:

• laboratory examination of stool sample
• additional blood tests

Treatment for diarrhea:
Specific treatment will be determined by your child's physician(s) based on:

• patient's age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disorder
• patient's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disorder
• patient's or parent's opinion or preference

Treatment usually involves replacing lost fluids, and may include antibiotics when bacterial infections are the cause.

A child with diarrhea can have regular fluids or special fluids (such as Pedialyte) for diarrhea. Soft drinks, soups, juices, sports drinks, and boiled skim milk, however, may make the child sicker. Anti-diarrheal medications are not useful for most diarrhea and may be harmful -- don't use them unless recommended by a pediatrician.