Diarrhea in Infants
Alternate Names : Infantile Diarrhea, Infant Diarrhea
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
Diarrhea in infants can cause the following conditions:
abdominal distress
and cramping, which may disrupt sleep
frequent, watery stools, and in more serious situations,
pus or blood in the stools
irritability
less interest in feeding
loss of appetite
sluggishness and less activity than usual
vomiting
It is important to be able to tell the difference between
diarrhea and the normal loose, watery stools of infants in the first 6 to 8
weeks of life. Breast-fed infants normally have stools that look like watery,
yellow cottage cheese. Their stools also are frequent, often occurring during
or after each feeding. Breast milk stools usually are sweet-smelling as
compared to the stools of formula-fed infants. Most
infants, even those fed formula, have frequent, watery stools until they are six
to eight weeks old. After that, the stools become firmer and less frequent. In
fact, infants who are only fed breast milk beyond the first two months of life
may have a stool only every three to five days. As long as the stool is soft, this is
normal. Babies' stools are firmer once they start on solid food.
When severe, diarrhea can cause
dehydration. Signs of dehydration include the following:
absence of tears when crying
decreased urination
dry mouth
sluggishness and lethargy
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