How to stop stooling in a child

How to Treat Diarrhea in Kids – Children's Health

Nothing can slow down a child's fun – or interfere with family plans – more than a case of diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common condition that occurs when stool has too much water in it.

"The colon is designed to absorb water so that the stool has form and consistency. At times, the stool absorbs too much water, resulting in diarrhea,” explains Lauren Lazar, M.D., Pediatric Gastroenterologist with Children's Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern. "If your child has a loose or liquid stool at least three or more times per day, it's probably diarrhea.”

The best treatment for your child's diarrhea may depend on its cause, but there are ways to provide relief from diarrhea symptoms. Learn how to treat diarrhea in kids, including advice on anti-diarrheal medicines, home remedies and the best foods to give your child.

What can cause diarrhea in kids?

Usually, when children get diarrhea, it's considered "acute,” meaning it lasts from a few days up to a week. The most common cause of acute diarrhea is some sort of infection, whether viral, bacterial or parasitic.

Beyond stomach bugs, diarrhea in kids can also be triggered by other issues, including:

Food allergies
Lactose intolerance
Eating or drinking too much sugar or artificial sweetener
Certain antibiotic medications

Chronic diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts longer than 2-4 weeks and is less common. Like acute diarrhea, it can be caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Chronic diarrhea might also be triggered by underlying inflammation in the body, genetic or autoimmune conditions such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, or functional GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.

What can I give my child to stop diarrhea?

Usually, medicine is not necessary to treat diarrhea in kids. In most cases, acute infectious diarrhea will stop when the body clears out the infection.

"Diarrhea is like a cough when you have a cold. Your gut is trying to get the bad stuff out,” explains Dr. Lazar. "If you slow down the gut with an anti-diarrheal medicine during infectious diarrhea, you're keeping the infection inside.”

If your child's diarrhea lasts more than a few days, check with your pediatrician to determine the cause and best treatment. For chronic diarrhea, your doctor might suggest a change of diet, medication or other ongoing treatment.

Information about diarrhea medicine for kids

Generally, antibiotics are not used to treat infectious diarrhea in children.
Always check with your doctor before giving your child over-the-counter diarrhea medications such as Imodium and Pepto-Bismol.
For some types of infectious diarrhea, probiotics may be helpful. You can purchase probiotics over the counter in liquid and pill form. Make sure to buy the version that is "for children.” Check with your doctor before using probiotics if your child is under age 3.
Do not give any type of medication to children under age 3 without first consulting your physician.

What are home remedies for diarrhea in kids?

There is no one specific food, drink or home remedy that will stop your child's diarrhea. The best treatment for your child's diarrhea is supportive care. To provide relief from diarrhea symptoms, focus on:

Keeping your child hydrated
Offering a variety of nutritious foods
Identifying triggers or problem foods

"With diarrhea, the body loses salts and electrolytes, so it's very important to help your child stay hydrated,” says Dr. Lazar. "Avoid juice and other sugary beverages.”

To keep a child with diarrhea hydrated, offer plenty of fluids, such as:

Water
Broth or soup
Pediatric electrolyte solutions in liquid or freezer pop form
Sports drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade (choose low-sugar varieties)

What should you feed a child who has diarrhea?

If your child has diarrhea, it's important to feed them a healthy, well-balanced diet in addition to plenty of fluids. In the past, doctors suggested the "BRAT” diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) as a solution to help children with diarrhea. Now, many doctors don't recommend it.

"The BRAT diet is restrictive and does not necessarily help stop diarrhea,” explains Dr. Lazar. "Instead, we recommend that children continue to eat a nutritious, well-rounded diet, as there is evidence that the intestine heals when the child is fed.”

For breastfed babies and children, breast milk continues to be a great option for nutrition through diarrhea. "Breast milk is easily absorbed and has more nutrients than electrolyte solutions,” says Dr. Lazar. However, parents should keep in mind that infants, especially newborns, are very susceptible to dehydration with diarrhea, so if you notice any change in a baby's stool pattern, you should contact your pediatrician.

In certain cases of diarrhea, your child's pediatrician might suggest a dairy-free or low-sugar diet – on a short-term basis. If your child's diarrhea persists, try keeping a food diary. For some people, certain foods can trigger diarrhea. For example, some patients with irritable bowel syndrome notice that high-fat, high-sugar or spicy foods tend to cause problems. For some children, gluten or dairy might trigger diarrhea. If you sense that a particular food is causing a problem for your child, write it down and discuss it with your doctor.

Will fiber or certain foods stop my child's diarrhea?

Fiber is often used to regulate bowel movements and can be used in both constipated and diarrheal states, depending on the type of fiber in the food. Pectin, a naturally occurring substance in food, can also be used to thicken stools. Certain fiber-rich foods may help slow your child's diarrhea. High-fiber foods that may help with diarrhea include:

Apples (not the skin)
Bananas
Barley
Oats
Beans
Peas
Sweet potatoes (not the skin)

Discuss with your doctor if a fiber supplement is appropriate to give your child.

When should I take my child to the doctor for diarrhea?

Call a physician about diarrhea if your child:

Is less than 6 months of age
Has blood in the stool
Shows signs of dehydration (low urine output, no tears, no spit in the mouth, excessive sleepiness or low activity level)
Is vomiting
Has a high fever that does not improve with fever medication
Has abdominal distention (swelling or enlargement)
Has a history of abdominal surgeries
Shows symptoms lasting longer than 2-3 days

"Even if your child is staying hydrated, I would recommend going to the pediatrician if the diarrhea is not improving after two or three days – just to make sure no other evaluations are needed,” recommends Dr. Lazar.

Learn more about childhood diarrhea and gastroenterology

The Pediatric Gastroenterology Division at Children's Health offers specialized programs to help children and their families manage a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions. Learn more about our GI program, services and support we offer children and families.

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Diarrhea in Children | Johns Hopkins Medicine

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is when stools (bowel movements) are loose and watery. Your child may also need to go to the bathroom more often.

Diarrhea is a common problem. It may last 1 or 2 days and go away on its own. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days, your child may have a more serious problem.

Diarrhea may be either:

Short-term (acute). Diarrhea that lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away. This may be caused by food or water that was contaminated by bacteria (bacterial infection). Or it may happen if your child gets sick from a virus.
Long-term (chronic). Diarrhea that lasts for a few weeks. This may be caused by another health problem such as irritable bowel syndrome. It can also be caused by an intestinal disease. This includes ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or celiac disease. Giardia may also cause chronic diarrhea.

What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea may be caused by many things, including:

Bacterial infection
Viral infection
Trouble digesting certain things (food intolerance)
An immune system response to certain foods (food allergy)
Parasites that enter the body through food or water
Reaction to medicines
An intestinal disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease
A problem with how the stomach and bowels work (functional bowel disorder), such as irritable bowel syndrome
Surgery on the stomach or gallbladder

Children who visit some foreign countries are at risk for traveler's diarrhea. This is caused by having food or water that is not safe because of bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Severe diarrhea may mean a child has a serious disease. Talk with your child's healthcare provider if symptoms don’t go away. Also talk with the provider if symptoms stop your child from doing daily activities. It may be hard to find out what is causing your child’s diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They can include:

Cramping
Belly (abdominal) pain
Swelling (bloating)
Upset stomach (nausea)
Urgent need to use the bathroom
Fever
Bloody stools
Loss of body fluids (dehydration)
Incontinence

The symptoms of diarrhea may look like other health problems. Severe diarrhea may be a sign of a serious disease. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is diarrhea diagnosed?

The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. He or she will give your child a physical exam. Your child may have lab tests to check blood and urine.

Other tests may include:

A stool culture to check for abnormal bacteria or parasites in your child’s digestive tract. A small stool sample is taken and sent to a lab.
A stool evaluation to check the stool for blood or fat
Blood tests to rule out certain diseases
Imaging tests to rule out structural problems
Tests to check for food intolerance or allergies
A sigmoidoscopy. This test lets the healthcare provider check the inside of part of your child’s large intestine. It helps to tell what is causing diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, abnormal growths, and bleeding. It uses a short, flexible, lighted tube (sigmoidoscope). The tube is put into your child’s intestine through the rectum. This tube blows air into the intestine to make it swell. This makes it easier to see inside.

How is diarrhea treated?

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

Dehydration is the major concern with diarrhea. In most cases, treatment includes replacing lost fluids. Antibiotics may be prescribed when bacterial infections are the cause.

Children should drink lots of fluids. This helps replace the lost body fluids. If your child is dehydrated, be sure to:

Offer drinks called glucose-electrolyte solutions. These fluids have the right balance of water, sugar, and salts. Some are available as popsicles.
Avoid juice or soda. They may make diarrhea worse.
Not give plain water to your baby
Not give too much plain water to kids of any age. It can be dangerous.
Keep breastfeeding your baby. Breastfed babies often have less diarrhea.
Keep feeding your baby formula, if you were already doing so

What are the complications of diarrhea?

The greatest complication of diarrhea is dehydration. This is more likely with young children and those with a weakened immune system. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe. Mild dehydration is the loss of fluid. Moderate or severe dehydration puts stress on the heart and lungs. In the worst cases it can lead to shock, which is life-threatening.

What can I do to prevent diarrhea?

Proper handwashing can reduce the spread of bacteria that may cause diarrhea.

A rotavirus vaccine can prevent diarrhea caused by rotaviruses. Ask your child's healthcare provider which vaccines are right for your child.

When you travel, make sure anything your child eats and drinks is safe. This is even more important if you travel to developing countries.

Travel safety tips for drinking and eating include:

Not drinking tap water or using it to brush teeth
Not using ice made from tap water
Not drinking unpasteurized milk (milk that has not gone through a process to kill certain bacteria)
Not eating raw fruits and vegetables unless you wash and peel them yourself
Not eating raw or undercooked meat or fish
Not eating food from street vendors or food trucks

Talk with your child's healthcare provider before traveling.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call your child's provider if your child is less than 6 months old or has any of the following symptoms:

Belly pain
Blood in the stool
Frequent vomiting
Doesn’t want to drink liquids
High fever
Dry, sticky mouth
Weight loss
Urinates less frequently (wets fewer than 6 diapers per day)
Frequent diarrhea
Extreme thirst
No tears when crying
Sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on baby’s head

Key points about diarrhea

Diarrhea is loose, watery stool. Your child may also have to go to the bathroom more often.
It may be caused by many things, including bacterial infection or viral infection.
Dehydration is the major concern with diarrhea.
In most cases, treatment involves replacing lost fluids.
The rotavirus vaccine can prevent diarrhea caused by that virus.
Proper handwashing can help prevent diarrhea.
When you travel, make sure anything your child eats and drinks is safe.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s health care provider:

Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
At the visit, write down the names of new medicines, treatments, or tests, and any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.
If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your child’s provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.

how to treat and how to stop diarrhea with and without fever

Diarrhea is a fairly common problem in children. Its causes may be different - malnutrition, intestinal infections, taking certain medications, an allergic reaction to certain foods.

Types of diarrhea in a child

According to their varieties and origin, the following types of diarrhea are distinguished: infectious, alimentary, dyspeptic, toxic, drug-induced and neurogenic.

Non-infectious

Non-infectious types of diarrhea include: alimentary, dyspeptic, toxic, drug-induced and neurogenic.

Infectious

Diarrhea can be caused by a viral or bacterial intestinal infection.
Viral infections include:

Adenovirus infection . In this disease, the virus infects the intestinal mucosa, upper respiratory tract, and eyes. Against the background of elevated temperature, abdominal pain and diarrhea are added to the symptoms of a cold (sore throat, cough, runny nose). nine0021
Rotavirus infection or "intestinal flu" manifests itself in the form of fever up to 38-39 ° C, diarrhea, vomiting.
Enterovirus infection also manifests itself in the form of flu-like symptoms, that is, sore throat, runny nose, cough, to which vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating are added.

Among the most common bacterial infections are:

Samlmonellosis is an intestinal infection caused by Salmonella. nine0021
Dysentery infection caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella that affects the mucous membrane of the large intestine.

Causes of diarrhea in a child

Diarrhea in a child is a serious problem that should not be underestimated. However, do not confuse diarrhea with a single liquid stool, which can occur when the child has taken unfamiliar food. Loose stools usually do not cause significant discomfort to children.

Consider the most common causes of diarrhea in children. nine0003

Infectious diarrhea is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection and is most often accompanied by fever.

Alimentary diarrhea may occur in case of prolonged violation of the diet, a monotonous diet poor in vitamins, as well as in case of allergy to certain foods (strawberries, strawberries, eggs, nuts, etc.) or drugs (for example, iodine, sulfonamides, antibiotics, etc.).

Dyspeptic diarrhea occurs with secretory insufficiency of the gastrointestinal tract. This condition develops when the stomach, pancreas, liver or intestines do not produce enough enzymes to break down and digest food.

Toxic diarrhea may be caused by poisoning with heavy metals (eg, mercury, arsenic) and other toxic substances - nicotine, ethyl alcohol. The cause of toxic diarrhea can also be the accumulation of endotoxins in the body, for example, in chronic uremia (increased blood urea due to kidney damage). nine0003

Drug-induced diarrhea develops with prolonged use of antibiotics that disrupt the normal intestinal microflora and contribute to the development of dysbacteriosis.

Neurogenic diarrhea is caused by a violation of the nervous regulation of bowel function. This type of diarrhea can develop under the influence of negative emotions (anxiety, fear, excitement).

Treatment of diarrhea in a child

If diarrhea develops in children under 1 year of age, hospitalization is necessary, since the loss of a large amount of fluid can be life-threatening for the child. nine0003

How to treat with drugs

Treatment of diarrhea in older children is primarily aimed at eliminating the cause that caused it. For example, taking enzymes with insufficient production by the stomach (pepsin), pancreas (pancreatin, panzinorm, festal, mezim, etc.).

In case of alimentary diarrhea and allergic reactions to food or drugs, adsorbents are indicated, such as Enterosgel, activated carbon, Smecta, Neosmectin, Laktofiltrum, etc.

If you have bacterial diarrhea, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

In case of dysbacteriosis, it is recommended to prescribe preparations containing intestinal bacteria, bifikol, bifidumbacterin, etc. General strengthening therapy in the form of a vitamin complex can also be prescribed. In case of indigestion, enzymatic preparations festal, mezim forte, kreon, etc. should be used.

Since a child loses a lot of fluid during diarrhea, it must be replenished with drinking saline solutions (regidron, glucosan, cycloglucosan). nine0003

Home treatments

Before the doctor arrives, your baby can be given an antipyretic drug such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Since the body loses a lot of fluid during diarrhea, which can be very dangerous in children under 3 years old, the child must be given mineral water without gas, cooled boiled water or Regidron. Before the doctor arrives, you can give the child an adsorbent - Enterosgel, Smecta, Neosmectin, etc.

Prevention of diarrhea in a child

The main cause of intestinal infections is non-observance of personal hygiene rules. From an early age, a child must be taught to wash hands before eating, after going to the toilet and walking in the air. Food products must be subjected to thorough heat treatment. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly in running water before eating. Subject to all these simple rules, the likelihood of intestinal infection will decrease several times. nine0003

Vomiting and loose stools in a child

Ambulance for children: +7 (812) 327-13-13

In a child (especially in the first year of life), the digestive system is very sensitive not only to the quality of food and its compliance with age, but also to any drastic changes in diet. Naturally, having received something unacceptable or unusual, the body seeks to get rid of it as soon as possible, either by regurgitating the contents of the stomach through the mouth (vomiting), or by dramatically accelerating the passage of uncomfortable food through the intestines (diarrhea). However, nutritional errors, like food poisoning, are not actually the most common causes of vomiting and/or loose stools in children - most intestinal disorders in babies are associated with intestinal infections (bacterial or viral). nine0015 Of course, careful personal hygiene reduces the risk of intestinal infections, but there are no methods that guarantee 100% protection against them for your baby - the child lives in an unsterile world inhabited by pathogens, many of which can be transmitted not only by contact, but also by air - by drip. Therefore, it is not worth conducting an investigation to find out which of the family members infected the child - all claims are against the one who created the microbes. nine0003

In the event of vomiting and loose stools, a doctor's consultation is absolutely necessary. This is especially true of vomiting - this symptom can be a sign of a number of serious diseases that have nothing to do with the gastrointestinal tract. If vomiting is combined with a headache or appeared after a head injury, call an ambulance without waiting for the visit of the local doctor. Save the last few stools until the doctor arrives by sealing the diaper or panties in a plastic bag - most likely the doctor will want to examine them. nine0015 Naturally, with vomiting and diarrhea, the main function of the digestive system, the absorption of nutrients, is disrupted. However, if a child’s body can tolerate a nutritional deficiency for quite a long time without serious consequences, then a lack of fluid and salt (the so-called dehydration or dehydration caused by vomiting or loose stools) can dramatically worsen the child’s condition and cause serious complications. Therefore, the first therapeutic measures for vomiting and diarrhea are hunger and drink. nine0003

Hunger

If a doctor's visit is expected in the next few hours, the baby should not be fed until the doctor arrives. In the case where urgent medical advice is not possible, you should take a break in the diet for 6-8 hours (for infants, this means skipping one feeding). In the future, the child is fed fractionally (that is, often and little by little). Breastfed babies need to be fed after two hours, while reducing the feeding time. In children of the first year of life, complementary foods should be abandoned on the first day, limiting themselves to breast milk or its substitute. Older children can be offered crackers, biscuits, rice porridge on the water. The basic principle of nutrition in this case is better not to give than to give (if the child does not ask for food, you do not need to feed him at all). Further dietary recommendations are best obtained from your doctor - as already mentioned, with the problems described, a doctor's consultation is absolutely necessary. nine0003

Drinking

It must also be fractional. A single volume of liquid for infants should not exceed 10-15 ml, for older children - 30-100 ml (large volumes, stretching the stomach wall, can provoke vomiting). It is necessary to water the child in 10-30 minutes (the smaller the one-time volume, the more often you should drink). The daily volume of fluid taken should not be less than the daily need of the child, taking into account the increased losses: for an infant, this is 800–1000 ml, for older children, up to two or three liters. Do not be afraid to overdose the liquid - here the principle is exactly the opposite: it is better to pass than not to give (meaning the daily volume, not a single serving). nine0015 Having dealt with the amount of liquid, it makes sense to discuss what should a child drink? The main drink may be water, weakly brewed tea, herbal teas (for example, chamomile or children's stomach tea). If the child is not accustomed to unsweetened drinks, it is better to use fructose for sweetening, since the sucrose contained in regular sugar activates the fermentation processes in the intestines.
However, such drinking is unable to compensate for the loss of salts (especially these losses are great with vomiting). Therefore, at least half of the daily volume of liquid should be represented by saline solutions. In this capacity, it is most convenient to use Regidron powders (they are sold at any pharmacy). The contents of the package are dissolved in one liter of water. In the absence of Regidron, you can prepare a similar solution yourself: 8 teaspoons of fructose or sugar and ⅔ teaspoon of salt per liter of water. It is also necessary to give the child saline solutions because even with a significant water deficit in the body, the baby will refuse to drink if the salt deficiency is even greater than the water deficit. nine0015 Note that in case of gastrointestinal disorders, the correction of water-salt disorders is the main therapeutic factor, much more important than the use of the most modern and effective drugs.

Medications

And yet, what medicines can be given to a child with diarrhea and vomiting before the doctor arrives?
At the very beginning of the disease, enterosorbents can be useful - Polysorb, Zosterin-Ultra, Polypefan, Filtrum (it is very difficult to give the child favorite activated charcoal in an effective dose). It will also help to normalize Smekta's stool - three doses a day, children over two years old - a whole sachet, young children - one sachet per day for a year of life. Before use, a sachet of Smecta should be dissolved in 50 ml of boiled water (allowed - in milk mixtures). If diarrhea or vomiting is accompanied by an increase in temperature above 38 ºС, the temperature should be reduced, since at elevated temperatures fluid losses increase to humidify the exhaled air. nine0003

WHAT NOT TO DO?

First of all, do not try to wash the child's stomach - this violent event can only lead to additional loss of salts. In addition, after this unpleasant procedure, you are unlikely to be able to give the child a drink or give him the necessary medicine.
In no case should you also give your child antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. First, today antibiotics in the treatment of intestinal infections are not used so often. Secondly, they begin to act only on the second or third day of course use, so a few hours do not solve anything. nine0015 The widely advertised Imodium (synonyms - Lopedium, Loperamide) also cannot be used alone - the drug does not have a therapeutic effect on the disease that caused loose stools, it simply inhibits intestinal motility. In addition, age restrictions and possible side effects of this drug make it possible to use it in children only under the supervision of the attending physician.

Let me emphasize once again that in case of vomiting and (or) loose stools in a child, timely (that is, immediate) consultation with a doctor is absolutely necessary. Usually, the delay in going to the doctor is due to a banal reason - parents are simply afraid that the child will be “taken to the hospital”. With early treatment, these fears are completely unfounded - most cases of intestinal disorders in children proceed without any problems and can be treated at home. The need for hospitalization is more often associated not with the severe course of the disease itself (although this also happens), but with dehydration that has developed during unsuccessful attempts to cope with the disease on their own.