Diarrhea in Infants
Alternate Names : Infantile Diarrhea, Infant Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a condition in which loose, watery stools are passed
with greater frequency than normal.
What is going on in the body?
Diarrhea occurs when the colon or large intestine becomes irritated. This can
be caused by many things, including infection, chemical toxins, inflammation,
stress, or anxiety. The
colon responds to this irritation in the following ways:
increases the amount of water and mucous in the stool
increases the frequency of emptying the stools from the
body
decreases the amount of water it reabsorbs from the stool
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Most of the time, diarrhea in children is caused by the viruses that cause
gastroenteritis. Diarrhea is often associated with vomiting.
Following are other causes of diarrhea:
bacteria that invade the intestinal tract
gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel
syndrome
inherited birth defects such as cystic fibrosis
introduction of a new food
toxins from contaminated food
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