Diarrhea in an infant: causes, symptoms, treatment

Diarrhea (diarrhea), as is known, is considered the increase and dilution of the stool. In children of the first two months of life, the intestine is not sufficiently developed, so it is emptied after each feeding. And this is not considered a pathology, if the feces are porridge-like, with white lumps and an acid-milky smell. At the same time, its color can normally be of different shades of yellow or yellowish-greenish.

The frequency of stool in a child older than three months should not exceed 4 times, and after 6 months of life the intestine is emptied even less often - up to 3 times a day. In addition, after six months of life, the feces should change their character, becoming more formalized, which is associated with the introduction of complementary foods into the diet.

Diarrhea in an infant (up to 6 months) is a condition where the stool frequency exceeds 10 times a day. In "artificial" at the same age, diarrhea can be considered empty bowel more than 6 times a day. There are a lot of reasons for this condition, the danger lies in the fact that a large amount of water and salts are lost with feces, without which the organism can not exist. That is why diarrhea in an infant is a reason for active action on the part of parents.

Causes of diarrhea

Conditionally the reasons are divided into 2 large groups - infectious and non-infectious.

1. Infectious. They can be caused by viruses (enteroviruses and rotavirus infection), bacteria and protozoa. The main reason for such diarrhea is violation of the rules of hygiene when caring for a child (unwashed hands of a caring person, getting into the mouth of dirty handles of the baby, as well as unprocessed household items, using common toys).

A) Diarrhea caused by viruses. Often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, there is a connection with the use of the mother or the child of certain foods. The stool is frequent (with rotavirus infection - up to 20 times a day, sometimes more often), usually gets an unpleasant smell, sometimes changes color. Often accompanied by vomiting.

B) Diarrhea in an infant with a bacterial origin caused by an E. coli, salmonella, shigella (dysentery rod). This is more rare for babies cause. In this case, the stool is frequent, offensive, often its color changes (with salmonellosis it is green, similar to marsh mud). The temperature of the body also rises. Can be vomiting.

C) Diarrhea in severe septic diseases. Thus, pneumonia can be accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting and fever. But in this case there is more frequent breathing, in which additional muscles begin to participate (nose wings, intercostals).

It should be noted the following: with abundant diarrhea, when you can not compensate for fluid loss with feces, the child's temperature "normalizes". Moreover, it falls below the norm. This is not a favorable symptom, but a symptom of dehydration.

2. Non-infectious: caused by an abundance of reasons.

- Among them there is a kind that is considered among pediatricians "relatively physiological": it is a liquid chair lasting one day when introducing a new product into the lure or when teeth are pricked.

- Diarrhea when the absorption of milk or mixture is impaired due to a deficiency in the body of a child of an enzyme (lactase deficiency, celiac disease, etc.). In this case, diarrhea occurs already in the first days of life or from the moment the child is transferred to a new mixture. The stool is liquid (less often - mushy), abundant, has a brilliant appearance and unpleasant odor. The body temperature does not increase.

- Diarrhea in an infant may be a consequence of anomalies in the development of the intestine or pancreas, bile ducts. The chair is plentiful, a large amount of undigested food, there is no temperature.

- Dysbiosis. You can talk about it if your mom or baby has been recently (no more than 2 months have passed) or is taking antibiotics now. The body temperature is normal. The chair is thin, it has slime, it can be green.

- Other causes of diarrhea are more suitable for adults.

What if I have diarrhea?

The main task is to ensure the replenishment of the fluid and salts lost with feces. That is, it is necessary to take into account, how much water was lost with a chair, what - with the temperature. You need to drink the child with this amount of fluid, plus give him extra fluid that is necessary to maintain life (for example, for the first month of life - 140 ml / kg, for the second - 130 ml / kg, after the fourth calculation goes differently).

It can be soldered with breast milk, although it is better to transfer the child to a lactose-free or low-lactose mixture (Humana LP, Nan lactose, Nestozhno low-lactose). In addition to the mixture it is necessary to give water, preferably with electrolytes (dissolve in a 250 ml of water a bag of the drug "Human electrolyte" or in a liter of water - a bag of powder "Regidron"). Water should be given every 10-15 minutes on a teaspoonful. If the child does not vomit, you can give a little larger amounts (2 teaspoons).

The next event for diarrhea is sorbent. For babies it is a preparation of "Smecta" - 1 package for 150 ml of water. Children under the age of one should try to "pour" a half of the prepared solution per day.

Lactobacillus: "Bio-Gaia" preparation - 5 drops per day, probiotics "Lacto-" and "Bifidumbacterin" in the age-related dosage, 5 ml of "Entererozermina" or "Enterofuril" suspension per day.

All medications are used only on the advice of a doctor. If you can not adequately fill the volume of fluid and stop diarrhea, do not wait for dehydration. Call an ambulance and go to the hospital, where they will help, and they will find the reason.