Why is my baby poop watery

Causes, Treatments, and When to Worry

Diarrhea is something we would rather not have to deal with — even when it happens to cherubic little babies. But diarrhea happens to everyone — once in a while — and babies are certainly no exception.

Occasional baby diarrhea is pretty common (and very normal!). Your new little one is just beginning to explore food and is still getting used to this digestion thing. But too much diarrhea can lead to too much water loss for a tiny baby.

Here’s what to know about your baby’s runny poop and when to ring your pediatrician.

There’s no one answer to what baby poop should look like. Opening a diaper might reveal a rainbow of colors and textures. This is because babies can have different kinds of watery poop or diarrhea at different ages and stages.

In fact, there’s even a color chart to help parents and caregivers figure out what’s going on with a little one’s poops. A rule of thumb for poop: Any earthy color is just fine!

Your newborn’s very first poop is called meconium and doesn’t even smell bad. That’s because it’s not really poop, but just a baby’s way of cleaning out their intestines from all that time in the womb.

Meconium poop is black to green and looks greasy or tarry. You might see a bit of it mixed in with other poop for a day or two more.

After a few days, your baby’s poop will turn into a yellow mustard color. It might be watery and loose, but it’s still not diarrhea unless your baby is passing more poops than normal.

Newborn babies normally have soft, squishy poops, especially if they’re breastfed only. They also poop a lot — sometimes several times a day. So it can be hard to know if they have diarrhea or not.

However, if your infant has stools that are very runny or larger in size — maybe even leaking out of their diaper — and are more frequent than usual, then they have diarrhea.

If your baby is partly or completely formula-fed, they might have less watery or loose poops. Formula milk usually gives babies firmer poops that are light tan in color. Diarrhea in formula-fed babies will still be a bit watery, though the color can vary just as with normal stool.

There are many causes for baby diarrhea. Most of these are common and go away on their own. Baby diarrhea doesn’t usually last long.

In rare cases, diarrhea might be a sign that something’s not quite right, and your baby may need treatment.

Causes in breastfed babies

A medical study on 150 babies found that infants who are breastfed only have less diarrhea than babies who are partly or completely formula-fed. About 27 percent of breastfed babies got diarrhea often while almost 72 percent of babies who were on formula exclusively got diarrhea often.

There are still plenty of reasons why your baby might get diarrhea even if you’re breastfeeding them. These include:

Changes in your diet

If you’re breastfeeding your baby, a change in your diet can trigger diarrhea in your baby. For example, if you eat a lot of spicy food or sugar desserts one night, it might change your breast milk. This can make your baby’s tummy rumble and move along milk too quickly, leading to diarrhea.

Medications

If you’re taking medications like antibiotics, these can also get into your breast milk and trigger diarrhea in your baby. Some nutritional supplements like vitamins and protein powders might also leak into breast milk and stir up your baby’s tummy.

While you breastfeed, it’s safe to assume just about everything you consume can change breast milk. Even a tiny change can trigger diarrhea in sensitive baby tummies, though it is not common for this to happen very often.

Causes in breastfed or formula-fed babies

Stomach bug

If your baby suddenly gets diarrhea, they may have a “stomach bug.” Also called the stomach flu and gastroenteritis, the stomach bug is a common culprit in baby diarrhea. It can also cause other symptoms like a vomiting and a slight fever.

If your baby has a stomach bug, they may have diarrhea and other symptoms several times over a 24-hour period. This common baby illness usually goes away on its own as quickly as it began.

Baby meds

Your little one might occasionally need medication if they’re under the weather. Some medications can loosen your baby’s bowels and cause diarrhea. These include antibiotics for bacterial infections and medications for parasite infections.

Some babies may even be sensitive to over-the-counter fever and pain medications for babies.

Changes in your baby’s diet

By the time your baby is about 6 months old, they’re probably very interested in what you’re eating. And you’re likely ready to introduce them to solid foods. This change in diet can throw a wrench into baby’s digestive system.

A baby’s tummy might take some time changing gears from digesting breast milk or formula to dealing with new, solid foods in addition. This can lead to diarrhea until the digestive hiccups are smoothed over.

Other causes in formula-fed babies

Added formula ingredients

Using a certain formula or changing formulas can cause diarrhea in babies. Some babies just find many formulas harder to digest, though this is uncommon. It might take them a little while to get used to a new formula. This can lead to tummy cramps, gas, and diarrhea.

Milk allergy or intolerance

Milk allergy and milk intolerance are two difference things, but they can both sometimes cause diarrhea in babies. However, an allergy is uncommon. Only about 7 percent of babies under 1 year old are allergic to cow’s milk.

This kind of allergy can cause diarrhea, vomiting, or other symptoms right after feeding, or even hours to days later. Most children grow out of this allergy around the age of 5 years old.

Milk intolerance happens when your little one’s stomach can’t digest lactose, the sugars found in milk. Your baby might get this temporarily after having a stomach bug. Your baby might get diarrhea right after feeding even though they were fine with this kind of formula before.

If your baby has trouble with milk-derived formulas, check the label for ingredients like:

casein
lactose
whey

Rare causes for baby diarrhea

Very rare causes of diarrhea include serious illnesses. These causes aren’t common but can cause diarrhea and other symptoms that last for a long time, or don’t really go away at all.

Rare causes of baby diarrhea include:

serious large bowel (intestinal) infections (like Shigella colitis)
C. difficile infection
cystic fibrosis
neuroendocrine tumors

If your baby has a particularly bad bout of diarrhea, look out for serious side effects like dehydration. This can sometimes happen to babies because they’re so tiny. Dehydration is especially a risk if your baby has diarrhea and is also vomiting or has a fever.

Call your doctor immediately if your baby has any signs or symptoms of dehydration from diarrhea. These include:

dry mouth
dry skin
refusing to feed
feeding only a little
more irritable than usual
crying without shedding tears
weak cry
sunken eyes
sleepiness
not waking up easily
floppiness
dry diaper for 8 to 12 hours

You can’t always stop or prevent your baby’s diarrhea, but you can help make your little one more comfortable. You can also prevent dehydration and other complications at home.

In most cases, baby diarrhea gets better on its own and your baby won’t need medical treatment. Here’s what you can do at home when your little one has diarrhea:

Keep your baby hydrated. Keep breastfeeding if you’re nursing. If you’re formula-feeding, make the formula as normal and feed your baby.
Ask your pediatrician about electrolyte drinks for babies like Pedialyte. These can help replace lost fluids and salts when babies have diarrhea. But note: In normal cases of diarrhea, breast milk or formula is enough.
Change your baby’s diaper often. Try to keep them as dry as possible to help prevent a diaper rash.
If your little one is eating solid foods, give them bits of foods that may help soothe diarrhea. These include:
- crackers
- cereal
- pasta
- bananas

Avoid the following:

foods that can make diarrhea worse, like:
- cow’s milk, other than the dairy in their formula (you should be avoiding cow’s milk until your child is 1 year old anyway)
- apple juice and other fruit juices (you should be avoiding these until your child is 2 years old anyway)
- fried foods
- spicy foods
sports drinks that are made for adults
antidiarrheal medication, unless your pediatrician tells you to give it

The two colors that a baby’s (and adult’s) poop or diarrhea should never be are white and red. Call your baby’s pediatrician immediately if you see these colors in your little one’s diaper.

Very light or white poop can be a sign of a liver problem. Red diarrhea or poop can mean there’s bleeding somewhere inside.

Also call your doctor if your baby has severe diarrhea, or more than 10 watery poops a day.

Get medical attention if your baby has other symptoms or signs of illness along with diarrhea. These include:

lots of vomiting
forceful vomit
skin rash
fever
weight loss
not gaining weight
red or white poop

Diarrhea and other stomach hiccups — like gassiness — are common in babies. Though baby diarrhea can be a pain for you and your little one, it usually goes away on its own. Most causes of baby diarrhea don’t need treatment.

You can keep your baby comfortable and hydrated at home until the bout of diarrhea passes. In rare cases the diarrhea may last longer than normal. Call your pediatrician if your baby has severe diarrhea or diarrhea that doesn’t get better after 24 hours.

Diarrhea (0-12 Months)

Is this your child's symptom?

Sudden increase in the number and looseness of stools
Diarrhea means 3 or more watery or very loose stools. Reason: 1 or 2 loose stools can be normal with changes in diet.

Causes of Acute Diarrhea

Virus (such as Rotavirus). An infection of the intestines from a virus is the most common cause.
Bacteria (such as Salmonella). Less common cause. Diarrhea often contains streaks of blood.
Giardia (a parasite). More likely in child care center outbreaks.
Antibiotic Diarrhea. Many antibiotics cause mild diarrhea. This is not an allergic reaction. Keep giving the antibiotic. Call your doctor if any serious symptoms occur.
Serious Causes. Most bacterial diarrhea goes away on its own. A few can cause a severe large bowel infection (such as Shigella colitis). C. difficile is a serious cause that can occur after being on strong antibiotics.
Serious Complication: Dehydration. This is the health problem where the body has lost too much fluid. (See below for more on this).

Causes of Recurrent Diarrhea

Cow's Milk Allergy. Can cause loose, slimy stools in babies. Can be blood-streaked. Starts within the first 2 months of life. Need to avoid cow's milk formulas.
Lactose Intolerance. Lactose is the sugar in milk. Many people cannot absorb lactose. The gut bacteria convert the lactose to gas. The main symptoms are a lot of gas, loose stools and stomach bloating. Onset usually at age 4 or 5. This most often runs in the family (genetic).

Diarrhea Scale

Mild: 3-5 watery stools per day
Moderate: 6-9 watery stools per day
Severe: 10 or more watery stools per day
The main risk of diarrhea is dehydration.
Loose or runny stools do not cause dehydration.
Frequent, watery stools can cause dehydration.

Dehydration: How to Know

Dehydration means that the body has lost too much fluid. This can happen with vomiting and/or diarrhea. A weight loss of more than 3% is needed. Mild diarrhea or mild vomiting does not cause this. Neither does a small decrease in fluid intake.
Dehydration is the most important complication of diarrhea. Dehydration is a reason to see your doctor right away.
These are signs of dehydration:
Decreased urine (no urine in more than 8 hours) happens early in dehydration. So does a dark yellow color. If the urine is light straw colored, your child is not dehydrated.
Dry tongue and inside of the mouth. Dry lips are not helpful.
Dry eyes with decreased or absent tears
In babies, a depressed or sunken soft spot
Slow blood refill test: Longer than 2 seconds. First, press on the thumbnail and make it pale. Then let go. Count the seconds it takes for the nail to turn pink again. Ask your doctor to teach you how to do this test.
Fussy, tired out or acting ill. If your child is alert, happy and playful, he or she is not dehydrated.

Diarrhea in Breastfed Babies: How to Tell

Diarrhea in a breastfed baby is sometimes hard to tell.
Normal breastfed stools are loose (often runny and seedy). Stools are yellow, but sometimes can be green. The green color is from bile. Runny stools can even be bordered by a water ring. These are all normal stools.
Breastfed babies often pass more than 6 stools per day. Until 2 months of age, they may pass a stool after each feeding. But, if stools suddenly increase in number and looseness, suspect diarrhea. If it lasts for 3 or more stools, the baby has diarrhea.
If the stools contain mucus, blood or smell bad, this points to diarrhea.
Other clues to diarrhea are poor eating, acting sick, or a fever.

Diarrhea in Formula-Fed Infants: How to Tell

Formula-fed babies pass 1 to 8 stools per day during the first week. Then it starts to slow down to 1 to 4 per day. This lasts until 2 months of age.
The stools are yellow in color and thick like peanut butter.
Suspect diarrhea if the stools suddenly increase in number or looseness. If it lasts for 3 or more stools, the baby has diarrhea.
If the stools contain mucus, blood, or smells bad, this points to diarrhea.
Other clues to diarrhea are poor eating, acting sick or a fever.
After 2 months of age, most babies pass 1 or 2 stools per day. They can also pass 1 every other day. They no longer appear to have mild diarrhea.

When to Call for Diarrhea (0-12 Months)

Call 911 Now

Not moving
You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Dehydration suspected. No urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
Blood in the stool
Constant stomach pain lasts more than 2 hours
Vomits 3 or more times
Age less than 1 month with 3 or more diarrhea stools in past 24 hours
Severe diarrhea. 10 or more watery stools in the last 24 hours.
Fever over 104° F (40° C)
Fever in baby less than 12 weeks old. Caution: Do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen.
Weak immune system. Examples are sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids.
Your child looks or acts very sick
You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Moderate diarrhea. 6 or more watery stools in the last 24 hours.
Stomach pains that do not go away after each diarrhea stool
Fever lasts more than 3 days
Close contact with person or animal who has bacterial diarrhea
Contact with reptile (snake, lizard, turtle) in past 14 days
Travel to country at risk for diarrhea within past month
You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Diarrhea lasts more than 2 weeks
Loose stools are a frequent problem
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Mild diarrhea (probably caused by a virus)

Seattle Children's Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Bellevue
Everett
Federal Way
Seattle

Care Advice for Diarrhea

What You Should Know About Diarrhea:
- Most diarrhea is caused by a virus.
- Bacterial infections as a cause of diarrhea are not common.
- Diarrhea is the body's way of getting rid of the germs.
- The main risk of diarrhea is dehydration. Dehydration means the body has lost too much fluid.
- Most children with diarrhea don't need to see their doctor.
- Here are some tips on how to keep ahead of the fluid losses.
Mild Diarrhea:
- Most kids with diarrhea can eat a normal diet.
- Drink more fluids to prevent dehydration. Formula or breastmilk are good choices for diarrhea.
- Do not use fruit juices. Reason: They can make diarrhea worse.
- Solid foods: If on solid foods, eat more starchy foods (such as cereal, crackers, rice, pasta). Reason: They are easy to digest.
Formula-Fed Babies with Frequent, Watery Diarrhea:
- Keep giving formula but feed more often. Offer as much formula as your child will take.
- Mix formula the normal way. Reason: The formula contains plenty of water and doesn't need more.
- Solid foods: If on baby foods, continue them. Cereals are best.
Breastfed Babies with Frequent, Watery Diarrhea:
- Give your baby breastmilk more often.
- Also, give extra fluid if breast milk isn't keeping up with the fluid losses. You can use formula or ORS (Pedialyte).
- Solid foods: If on baby foods, continue them. Cereals are best.
Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), such as Pedialyte:
- ORS is a special fluid that can help your child stay hydrated. You can use Pedialyte or the store brand. It can be bought in food stores or drug stores.
- When to use: Start ORS for frequent, watery diarrhea if you think your child is getting dehydrated. That means passing less urine than normal. Increase fluids using ORS. Continue giving breastmilk, formula or regular milk.
- Amount: For babies, give 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml) of ORS after every large watery stool.
- Caution: Do not give ORS as the only fluid for more than 6 hours. Reason: Your child will need calories and cry in hunger.
Fever Medicine:
- For fevers above 102° F (39° C), give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Caution: avoid ibuprofen until 6 months or older.
- Note: Fevers less than 102° F (39° C) are important for fighting infections.
- For all fevers: Keep your child well hydrated. Give lots of cold fluids.
Diaper Rash - Prevention:
- Wash buttocks after each stool to prevent a bad diaper rash.
- To protect the skin, use an ointment (such as Vaseline or Desitin). Put it on the skin around the anus.
Return to Child Care:
- Your child can go back to child care after stools are back to normal.
- The fever should also be gone.
What to Expect:
- Viral diarrhea lasts 5-14 days.
- Severe diarrhea only occurs on the first 1 or 2 days. But, loose stools can last for 1 to 2 weeks.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Blood in the diarrhea
- Dehydration suspected (no urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth, and no tears)
- Diarrhea lasts over 2 weeks
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 11/06/2022

Last Revised: 01/13/2022

The color of the stool in a child - what does light, green or black stool indicate?

The characteristics of the baby chair are influenced by such indicators as age, type of feeding, and developmental features of the baby. At the same time, a change in the shade, consistency of the stool, the appearance of an unpleasant odor may indicate the presence of a particular pathology. Let's talk about which stool changes are a variant of the norm, and which are a cause for concern.

Child's eating habits

If a child has an unusual color of stool, parents should also pay attention to the color of the urine and the general well-being of the baby. If the urine has not become more saturated, and the child is active and cheerful, then the changes are most likely associated with the food eaten the day before.

If we are talking about a baby who feeds on mother's milk, then it is the mother herself who should analyze the diet. In formula-fed babies, stool changes may be due to the fact that the parents decided to introduce a new formula.

In older children who eat at the same table with adult family members, unusual stools are also most often associated with eating certain foods. Calcium-rich food contributes to the staining of feces in a light color, increasing its viscosity. For example, many kids love cottage cheese with sour cream. Eaten the day before, such a snack helps to lighten and increase the viscosity of feces - it becomes like clay.

The cause of green stool in a child may be eating a large amount of green vegetables, as well as lettuce leaves. Brick-red staining is often due to the fact that the child went too far with red berries or tomatoes. Blackcurrants and blueberries can cause very dark stools.

Other causes

Pediatricians say that the appearance of light-colored feces in a child may be due to the eruption of milk teeth. The exact causes of this process remain not fully understood, but the fact remains. Young mothers should remember about this feature of the child's body. However, if you are in doubt about a change in stool color, it is best to consult your pediatrician. Remember that the period of teething is often accompanied by an increase in susceptibility to various infections, including enteroviruses.

Also, if the color of the child's feces changes, parents should remember whether they gave him any medications the day before. Some drugs stain the stool: for example, the use of iron-containing products is associated with the appearance of greenish-black stool.

Finally, healthy children's feces can darken and lighten periodically. If the baby’s well-being does not suffer at the same time and the color of the feces returns to normal within a couple of days, then you should not sound the alarm.

The child's stool color has changed - maybe something is wrong?

Features of feces often indicate certain pathological processes. And sometimes a change in color, smell and other characteristics are the only symptoms that prompt a pediatrician to think about the correct diagnosis.

Dysbacteriosis

Dysbacteriosis is a disorder of the intestinal microflora. The shift in the species ratio of bacteria towards symbionts, which are normally present in small quantities, cannot but affect the properties of feces. In children suffering from dysbacteriosis, the stool becomes watery, with an admixture of a mucous character, lighter than normal. In severe cases, the feces can become frothy, acquire a sharp unpleasant odor.

These symptoms are often accompanied by pain in the abdomen, increased gas formation - the general condition of the child suffers. To solve the problem as soon as possible, you need to see a doctor.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis in children and adults may present with characteristic discolored, grayish stools. In order to exclude the presence of hepatitis in a child, when light stool appears, parents should pay attention to the color of the urine. Discolored stools, caused by a malfunction of the liver cells, are always accompanied by the release of saturated urine (the so-called "beer-colored" urine).

If warning symptoms appear, you should not panic - only a specialist can make a diagnosis of hepatitis. But there is no need to delay visiting the pediatrician. The doctor will prescribe a diagnostic plan and give the necessary recommendations.

Pancreatitis

Many people think that only adults suffer from pancreatitis. But, unfortunately, inflammation of the pancreas can occur at any age. Cal at the same time acquires a grayish tint, an unpleasant odor. In chronic pancreatitis, the total amount of excreted feces is increased, and it itself acquires a kind of oiliness, it is poorly washed off.

In a classic attack of pancreatitis, abdominal pains of girdle nature (or localized in the navel) are also observed. There are also symptoms of dyspepsia:

loss of appetite;
nausea and vomiting;
increased gas formation.

Also, children may experience a slight increase in body temperature, pale skin, dry mouth. An attack of pancreatitis can be triggered by excessive consumption of chocolate, cocoa, carbonated drinks, fresh vegetables.

Bent gallbladder

Bent gallbladder is a fairly common congenital anomaly. The bend of the gallbladder may be asymptomatic. Manifestations of pathology can appear after heavy consumption of food, especially fatty. Children are worried about vomiting with an admixture of bile, pain in the right side.

The bending of the gallbladder is characterized by alternating periods of constipation and diarrhea. With a pronounced inflection, the feces may become lighter than normal.

Rotavirus infection

This viral infectious disease is accompanied by intoxication (its signs are weakness, fever, general malaise) and symptoms of gastrointestinal lesions. The latter include pain, nausea, repeated vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen. At the same time, the child's stool is plentiful, it becomes watery, frothy, has a greenish-yellow color and a pungent odor. As a rule, pathological impurities are absent or there is a small amount of mucous inclusions.

Vomiting and diarrhea in children can cause severe dehydration very quickly. This condition is extremely dangerous for children, therefore, if the above symptoms appear, seek medical help immediately.

Whipple's disease

This rare infectious disease is accompanied by damage to the lymphatic system of the small intestine and articular syndrome. Whipple's disease occurs with marked fever, abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting. The stool is liquid, defecation occurs up to 10 times a day, the stool has a grayish tint and a pungent odor.

Is it necessary to go to the doctor if there is a change in the color of feces in children?

Since a change in the characteristics of the feces in a child can often be a variant of the norm, parents should act depending on the circumstances of the particular case. Attentive mothers and fathers can easily notice the connection between a change in stool and a previously eaten product or medication the day before. Even if the nature of the feces has changed for no apparent reason, but the child feels normal, it is worth observing him for 1-2 days. Perhaps the stool will normalize on its own.

In all other cases, when a change in the color and other properties of feces is accompanied by pain in the abdomen, fever, nausea, pallor of the skin and any other pathological signs, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician as soon as possible. Acute diseases in children can progress at a very high rate, so refusing to consult a specialist can be deadly.

Foamy stool in an infant

Foamy stool in an infant is a sign of a deficiency in the normal intestinal microflora. Without the right amount of beneficial bacteria, the physiological process of digestion becomes impossible, and the consistency of the stool changes.

Microflora imbalance may be temporary, transient. In this case, the condition is normalized without special treatment. In more serious cases, the doctor may prescribe drugs from the group of pro- and prebiotics. Finally, dysbacteriosis in combination with foamy stools is often one of the symptoms of an intestinal infection, especially if the child complains of abdominal pain, fever, and deterioration in the general well-being of the baby.

Diarrhea in infants

Newborns have loose stools due to infectious and non-infectious causes.

Diarrhea of an infectious nature has the following features:

pronounced unpleasant odor;
foaminess;
increase up to 8-10 times a day;
combination with nausea and vomiting, fever.

Causes of non-infectious diarrhea in an infant include:

lactose intolerance;
violations of the diet by a nursing mother;
reaction to unusual complementary foods.

Constipation in infants

Normally, a baby's feces are soft, but constipation can occur as early as the first month. If a child of the first year of life (and especially the first four weeks) has difficulty passing feces, parents should consult a pediatrician. Constipation in an infant may be a sign of one of the pathologies:

Hirschsprung's disease. In this disease, there is a violation of the innervation of the rectum. The main symptoms of the disease are increased gas formation and recurrent constipation, the appearance of which is not associated with a change in the nature of nutrition.
Anal fissure, irritation of the perianal zone. In this case, each act of defecation gives the child severe discomfort, therefore, at the psychological level, the baby can be restrained - constipation forms.

In addition, excessive use of microenemas and the gas tube can cause constipation. Sometimes parents, sincerely caring about the child, trying to relieve him of constipation, use special assistive devices almost every day. However, such actions can irritate the delicate skin of children in the anus, which indirectly can further aggravate the problem of constipation.

Occult blood in the stool

The presence of a significant amount of blood in the stool is not so difficult to recognize. Bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract (with anal fissure, ulcerative colitis) is manifested by bright red streaks. If the source of bleeding is higher (esophagus, stomach), the stool turns black.

Occasionally, stool may be normal in color and consistency, but may contain microstreaks of blood. This condition must be identified and treated, as the child regularly loses blood (even in microscopic amounts), which can provoke the development of iron deficiency anemia.

A pediatrician orders a fecal occult blood test, mainly due to a suspected gastrointestinal food allergy. The intestinal mucosa in young children is very delicate, so it is easily damaged by allergens. Especially frequent appearance of blood microveins in the feces is associated with the action of such generally recognized allergens as soy, chicken egg, wheat, seafood, cow's milk protein, peanuts.

Stools with mucus and strong odor

Mucus is a lingering discharge produced by the mucous membrane of the intestinal wall. With the help of mucus, the intestines are protected from the aggressive effects of the external environment, the pH of which differs from the norm in the acid or alkaline direction.

Few people know that reduced mucus content in feces can also lead to problems - cause constipation. However, parents are more concerned about the high content of mucus in the feces of the child.

The appearance of a mucous admixture may be one of the signs:

Acute respiratory infection. Young children, who are not yet able to blow their nose and cough, swallow nasal mucus and phlegm. This mucus is excreted along with the stool.
Teeth eruption. At the same time, saliva is actively secreted, which can also contribute to the appearance of mucous secretions.

Mucus in a child's stool should not cause much concern to parents, since most often this sign does not indicate serious health problems.

Pieces of undigested food in the stool

Pieces of food in the stool of a child also often cause anxiety in parents. The logic of mothers and fathers is simple: if the baby could not digest the food to the end, then perhaps he has problems with the work of the stomach and he does not receive enough nutrients. However, such judgments are not entirely correct.

The causes of undigested food particles can be:

Physiological (age-related) deficiency of enzymes. Some periods of a child's development are accompanied by a temporary deficiency of enzymes. But this does not mean that the child does not receive enough proteins, fats and carbohydrates. As you get older, your enzyme levels will normalize and your stools will become smooth.
Eating foods that, in principle, cannot be completely broken down in the human body. So, individual elements of fiber, which are rich in many vegetables and corn, are always excreted unchanged with feces. Small seeds of berries and some fruits (such as bananas) are also not digested in the gastrointestinal tract of children.

Bad smell

A child's feces may acquire an uncharacteristic odor in the following cases:

intestinal infection - the stool has a sharp, fetid odor;
enzyme deficiency - putrid odor in combination with a change in the consistency of feces;
constipation: stool that passes after a stool may have a different smell and texture.

What can I do to get my baby's stool normal?

Let's summarize. Treatment of stool disorders in babies depends on the causes of their occurrence.

If the mother clearly sees the connection of the changes that have occurred with too early complementary foods or the use of certain foods, it is only necessary to normalize the diet. With a high degree of probability, after 1-2 days, the child's stool will return to normal.

Do not require treatment and changes in feces caused by teething, taking the necessary medications. The exception to the rule is antibiotics: they cause dysbacteriosis. Prevention of this condition with the help of pre- and probiotics should begin from the first day of taking antibacterial drugs.

In all other cases, it is best to consult a doctor. Especially "dangerous" options for staining feces in a child are grayish-white, black and with bright red streaks of fresh blood. Also, babies with any changes in the stool in combination with signs of an infectious disease need an urgent visit to the doctor: fever, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

If you have even the slightest doubt about the nature of the change in feces in a child, it is better to consult a specialist. There is nothing more important than the health of children. Pediatricians of the Miracle Doctor clinic are ready to help you! Call us at the number listed on the site, or fill out the feedback form, and make an appointment for a child at a convenient time for you.

Author

Serdobintsev Kirill Valentinovich

pediatrician, allergist-immunologist

Experience 13 years

+7 (495) 032-15-21

Why is diarrhea dangerous in childhood? Complications, types, causes

Diarrhea in a child with physical and pathological causes. Diarrhea can cause serious distress in children. Therefore, timely diagnosis of pathology is of great importance.

Causes of diarrhea

There are many reasons for upset stool. These include physiological, drug, infections, allergic, gastrointestinal pathologies.

Physiological causes

In infants, stools are normally liquid, pasty. Diarrhea in an infant occurs when switching from one mixture to another, with the introduction of complementary foods. In older children, diarrhea can be caused by stress, eating too much sweets. As soon as the cause is excluded, the stool returns to normal.

Infections

Intestinal infections are a common cause of diarrhea. It poses a threat to children under five years of age. Characterized by an acute onset. Pathogens can be:

viral;
bacterial;
protozoan.

Allergic causes

Manifested by mucous liquid stools. In severe form, there may be traces of blood in the stool. Clinical signs and their severity depend on the amount of the allergen that has entered the body. Most often, diarrhea caused by allergens is accompanied by skin rashes, respiratory manifestations.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in chronic form

This species is typical for children of school age. This group includes:

congenital disorders - celiac disease, disaccharidase deficiency;
somatic diseases - inadequate diets, chronic pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholecystitis;
inflammatory processes - Crohn's disease, etc.

Medicated

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs. It is observed more often in children of the first years of life. Associated with the imperfect development of the intestinal microflora. Diarrhea is provoked by tetracyclines, cephalosporins, lincosamides, macrolides. Loose stools up to 15 times a day.

The causes of diarrhea are many. It is important to understand what caused diarrhea, in this case it will be possible to eliminate the cause, remove the consequences and symptoms. During a remote consultation, our doctors will reduce the number of causes that cause diarrhea in a child, explain the consequences, select clinics, and be in touch at any time of the day.

Types of diarrhea

There is no generally accepted classification of diarrhea. According to the IBDI, in children from the moment of birth to 5 years, according to the degree of dehydration, they distinguish:

No.	Description
one	severe dehydration
2	moderate dehydration
3	No dehydration

By duration:

In children 0-2 months	In children from 2 months to 5 years
Severe lingering diarrhea for more than two weeks	Severe lingering diarrhea for more than two weeks with dehydration
	Persistent diarrhea up to 14 days or more without dehydration

According to the severity of the pathological process:

No.	Description
one	Light form
2	Moderate form
3	Severe form

According to etiological factors:

bacterial infections;
viral infections;
helminthic invasions;
medical;
allergic;
physical.

According to the course of the disease:

Name	Description
Acute	Up to 30 days
lingering	From 1-3 months
Chronic	More than 3 months

Example

Mom went to the doctor with a child of 1 year and 3 months. Complaints were of frequent vomiting of food eaten, bloating, fever. The child was immediately taken to the hospital. A complete examination was carried out there: KLA, OAM, stool analysis, scraping for enterobiasis. Based on the anamnesis, the results of laboratory tests, the diagnosis was made: AII, osmotic type of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, toxicosis and exsicosis of the first degree without diarrhea, acute phase. Treatment in a hospital, supervision by experts is appointed or nominated.

Symptoms of pathology

Symptoms of diarrhea can appear suddenly, acutely. These include a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, manifested by:

frothy, watery stools;
weakness, lethargy;
dehydration;
loss of appetite;
pain in the abdomen;
impurities of blood in the stool;
weight loss.

At the first sign of diarrhea, contact our doctors. At a remote consultation, our doctors will study clinical signs, select clinics for examination, compile a list of necessary tests, provide an opinion of independent expert doctors, and will be in touch at any time.

Diagnosis of disease

The diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis, physical examination, laboratory tests, additional examination methods:

Ultrasound diagnostics allows you to exclude surgical causes of pathology, to find out the individual features of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract;
X-ray examination is performed for children older than two years;
stool analysis;
blood tests.

Differential diagnosis is carried out with acute appendicitis, intestinal invagination, NUC, dysbacteriosis.

Complications of pathology

Undesirable consequences occur in cases of a long course of the disease, lack of therapy:

neurotoxicosis, manifested by confusion, convulsions, nervousness;
circulatory disorders;
impaired absorption of nutrients in the intestine;
kidney failure;
dehydration;
fatal outcome;
intoxication;
hypovolemic shock.

With invasive diarrhea, intestinal perforation is possible with the subsequent development of peritonitis, intestinal bleeding, and rectal prolapse.

Important! It is necessary not to delay the visit to specialists for diarrhea in children. Self-medication is unacceptable, as it can aggravate the course of the disease.

Treatment of diarrhea

At home, parents need to water the child as often as possible, this will avoid dehydration. Liquid is given in small portions. It is impossible to force a child to eat in the absence of appetite.

Conservative therapy

Includes rehydration, medication, diet. In severe cases of the disease, intravenous infusions are indicated. Drugs are prescribed taking into account the causes that caused loose stools. Antibiotic therapy is indicated for severe bacterial infections. Enterosorbents, antidiarrheal drugs are included in the pathogenetic therapy of diarrheal syndrome. Antiemetics are given strictly according to the doctor's prescription.

In the early days of diarrhea - sparing food. the diet consists of mashed cereals on the water, slimy soups, stewed vegetables.

Surgical treatment

It is carried out with appendicitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease. It can be prescribed to stop bleeding, resection of affected areas of the intestine, segmental resection.

FAQ

What to do if the child constantly has loose stools?

If this symptom occurs in infants, then this is the norm. For older children, it is necessary to establish the cause of the pathology.

What should be given to a child if he has watery diarrhea?

All drugs should be prescribed only by the attending physician. The therapy includes enterosorbents, enzymes, antidiarrheal drugs, antibiotics. The treatment regimen for severe, repeated diarrhea depends on the cause of its cause.

Is it necessary to sound the alarm if the child vilifies, then fixes it?

This condition is not normal and does not go away on its own. It is worth knowing the cause of this condition. To help the child, you do not need to give the medicine yourself. Knowing the cause, you can get rid of digestive disorders.

Why can't a one-year-old child be given antidiarrheal drugs on his own to cure?

This group of drugs is not used for children under 6 years of age. These drugs can aggravate the course of the disease, lead to damage to the intestinal walls.

Expert opinion

Diarrhea occurs in children from one year old. It is rare in infants. There are enough reasons for causing a pathological condition. Diarrhea is manifested by a disorder of absorption of nutrients in the intestines, loose stools, sometimes fetid. Timely identification of the causes with subsequent treatment will help to avoid complications.

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