What Is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is frequent soft or loose bowel movements (poop). Most kids have diarrhea
from time to time. It usually doesn't last long and often gets
better on its own.
What Causes Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is usually caused by an infection in the intestines. The germs
that cause the infection are:
- viruses (most common)
- bacteria
- parasites
Viruses
Viral gastroenteritis (often called the "stomach flu") is a common illness in children.
It causes diarrhea and, often, nausea and vomiting.
The symptoms usually last a few days, but kids (especially babies) who can't take
enough liquids may become dehydrated.
Rotavirus affects babies
and young kids and can bring on watery diarrhea. Outbreaks are more common in the
winter and early spring months, especially in childcare centers. The rotavirus
vaccine can protect children from this illness.
Enteroviruses, like coxsackievirus,
also can cause diarrhea in kids, especially during the summer months.
Bacteria
Many different types of bacteria can cause diarrhea, including E.
coli, Salmonella,
Campylobacter, and Shigella. These bacteria are often
responsible for cases of "food
poisoning," which can cause diarrhea and vomiting within a few hours after someone
is infected.
Parasites
Parasitic infections that can cause diarrhea in children include giardiasis and
cryptosporidiosis.
What Else Can Cause Diarrhea?
Kids can sometimes get diarrhea from:
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Diarrhea?
Kids often get crampy belly pain first, followed by diarrhea that can last 3–5
days. Other symptoms may include:
- fever
- loss of appetite
- nausea (an uncomfortable feeling before vomiting)
- vomiting
- weight loss
- dehydration
How Do Doctors Find the Cause of Diarrhea?
Doctors will:
- ask about what the child ate most recently, when symptoms began, and how often
the diarrhea is happening
- ask specific questions about the diarrhea: Is it watery? Is there blood in the
poop?
- do an exam
- sometimes, take a stool (poop)
sample to send to a lab for analysis. This helps them find out which germ is causing
the illness.
How Is Diarrhea Treated?
Viral diarrhea goes away on its own. Most kids with bacterial diarrhea need treatment
with an antibiotic. Parasites always need treatment with anti-parasitic medicines.
Kids who aren't vomiting or becoming dehydrated can continue eating and drinking
or breastfeeding as usual. Continuing a regular diet may even shorten the diarrhea
episode. You may want to serve smaller portions of food until the diarrhea ends.
Don't give your child an over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor
tells you to do so.
What if My Child Is Dehydrated?
For kids who show signs of mild
dehydration, doctors recommend giving oral rehydration solutions (ORS). These
are available in most grocery stores and drugstores without a prescription and replace
body fluids as needed. Your doctor will tell you what kind to give, how much, and
for how long.
Kids should not be rehydrated with water alone because it doesn't contain the right
mix of sodium, potassium, and other important minerals and nutrients.
In some cases, kids with severe diarrhea may need to get IV fluids (given into
a vein) at the hospital for a few hours to help treat the dehydration.
How Can Diarrhea Be Prevented?
It's almost impossible to prevent kids from ever getting diarrhea. But there are
some ways to make it less likely:
- Make sure kids wash their
hands well and often, especially after using the toilet and before eating. Hand
washing is the best way to prevent diarrheal infections that pass from person to person.
Dirty hands carry germs into the body when kids bite their nails, suck their thumbs,
eat with their fingers, or put any part of their hands into their mouths.
- Keep bathroom surfaces like sinks and toilets clean.
- Wash fruits and vegetables
well before eating.
- Clean kitchen counters and cooking utensils well after they've been in contact
with raw meat, especially poultry.
- Refrigerate meats as
soon as possible after bringing them home from the store. Cook them until they're
no longer pink. Refrigerate all leftovers as soon as possible.
- Never drink from streams, springs, or lakes unless local health authorities have
checked that the water is safe for drinking.
- Avoid washing pet cages or bowls in the same sink that you use to prepare food.
And try to keep pet feeding areas separate from family eating areas.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
Call your doctor if your child has diarrhea and is younger than 6 months old. Also
call if your child has:
- diarrhea many times a day or it lasts for more than 3 days
- repeated vomiting and can't or won't drink fluids
- severe belly pain
- diarrhea that has blood in it
Call the doctor right away if your child seems dehydrated. Signs include:
- a dry or sticky mouth
- few or no tears when crying
- eyes that look sunken
- in a baby, the soft spot (fontanelle) on top of the head looks sunken
- peeing less or fewer wet diapers
- drowsiness or dizziness
Date reviewed: January 2019