Diarrhea is the passage of loose or
watery feces more often than normal. Breast-fed babies
may pass loose feces several times a day, & this is
normal. To avoid dehydration, your child should drink
plenty of fluids that do not contain milk. If symptoms
do not improve, consult your child's doctor.
DANGER SIGNS: Call an
ambulance if your child's diarrhea is accompanied by any
of the following symptoms -
Drowsiness or lethargy
Severe & prolonged abdominal pain
No urine passed during the day for 3 hrs (if under 1 yr)
or 6 hrs (in an older child)
Refusal to drink or feed (in babies) for over 6 hrs
Blood in the feces
More than eight bowel movements in a day
Recommended
Product: Charak product for
regularising Bowel Movement in children>>Paedritone;
Charak product for better Health>>Manoll
How long has your child had
diarrhea?
Less than 3 days
Does your child have
any of the following symptoms?
Abdominal Pain
POSSIBLE CAUSE
Your child may have GASTROENTERITIS.
MEDICAL
HELP
URGENT! Call your child's doctor immediately if your child
is under 6 months old. If your child is older, follow
the self-help advice for PREVENTING DEHYDRATION. Consult
your child's doctor if your child is no better in 24 hrs.
Temperature of 100oF (38oC)
or above
Vomiting
None of the above
3 days or over
Was your child constipated
before the onset of diarrhea?
Constipated
POSSIBLE CAUSE
Persistent constipation can lead to overflow soiling,
which can be mistaken for diarrhea.
MEDICAL
HELP
Call your child's doctor within 24 hrs.
Not constipated
What is the appearance
of your child's feces?
Uniformly runny
Contains recognizable pieces of food
Is your
child gaining weight & growing normally?
Yes
How
old is your child?
Under
12 months
Was
your baby given any of the following
before the onset of diarrhea?
Unfamiliar
foods
POSSIBLE
CAUSE
Foods that are new to your baby
may be the cause of digestive
upsets.
SELF
HELP
Withhold the food that seems to
be causing the trouble for atleast
1 week. Consult your baby's doctor
if your baby is no better in 24
hrs or develops other symptoms.
Sugary foods or sweetened
drinks
POSSIBLE
CAUSE
Sugar in food & drink can
cause diarrhea in babies.
SELF
HELP
Avoid giving your baby sweetened
foods & drinks. Consult your
baby's doctor if your baby is
no better in 24 hrs or develops
other symptoms.
Prescribed or over-the-counter
medicines
POSSIBLE
CAUSE
Your baby's symptoms may be a
side effect of the drug.
MEDICAL
HELP
Call your baby's doctor within
24 hrs. Stop giving over-the-counter
medicines but continue to give
any prescribed medication unless
advised to stop by your baby's
doctor.
None of the above
POSSIBLE
CAUSE
A digestive tract infection is
the most likely cause of diarrhea
in babies.
MEDICAL
HELP
URGENT! Call your baby's doctor
immediately if your baby is undser
6 months old. For older babies,
follow the self-help measures
for PREVENTING DEHYDRATION &
consult your baby's doctor if
your baby is no better in 24 hrs
or develops other symptoms.
12 months - 3 yrs
POSSIBLE
CAUSE
Young children often fail to chew &
digest food properly, which can lead
to toddler's diarrhea.
SELF
HELP
No special action is needed provided
that your child is well. Consult your
child's doctor if your child develops
other symptoms.
Over 3 yrs
Is
your child experiencing unusual stress,
anxiety or excitement?
Stress
or anxiety
Excitement
POSSIBLE
CAUSE
Psychological stress or unusual
excitement can cause diarrhea.
SELF
HELP
The diarrhea should stop as soon
as the cause has disappeared.
Consult your doctor if there is
a long-term cause for anxiety
in your child's life or if your
child develops other symptoms.
Neither
If you cannot
identify a possible cause for your child's
diarrhea from this chart, call your
child's doctor within 24 hrs.
No
POSSIBLE
CAUSES
It is possible that your child has a condition
affecting the digestive tract, such as FOOD
INTOLERANCE or CELIAC DISEASE.
