Diarrhoea (Children)

Overview

A child has diarrhoea when he or she passes out watery stools and/or goes to the toilet more frequently than usual. Diarrhoea is a common problem in children. It usually lasts a few days and resolves on its own.

Diarrhoea can be acute or chronic. Acute diarrhoea lasts for less than two weeks and is usually caused by viral or bacterial infections. Chronic diarrhoea lasts for more than two weeks. The underlying cause of chronic diarrhoea may be other conditions such as parasitic infections, irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

Causes

In children, diarrhoea is commonly caused by infection – viral, bacterial or parasitic – food intolerances and allergies or a reaction to medications.

Symptoms

Besides more watery and/or frequent stools, the child may have other symptoms such as fever, nausea, cramping abdominal pain and bloating.

Risk Factors

Risk factors include your child’s exposure to virus, bacteria and parasites that cause diarrhoea. Other risk factors are food or drug allergies.

Primary risk factors:
- Exposure to virus, bacteria and parasites that cause diarrhoea
- Food allergy
- Drug reaction

Prevention

Good personal hygiene can help prevent the spread of viral diarrhoea. Encourage your child to wash his or her hands often, especially before meals. Since diarrhoea can also result from eating contaminated food, ensure that your child eats hot and properly cooked food.

At home, serve hot cooked food piping hot. Cold food should be served cold. Do not leave cooked food standing at room temperature for more than two hours. Bacteria multiply quickly between 5 degree Celcius and 60 degree Celcius. Reheat stored cooked food at temperatures above 75 degree Celcius or bring them to a boil, to kill bacteria.

When To Seek Help

Most cases of diarrhoea are mild. But if the child is less than six months old, is not taking enough fluids to replace fluid loss, or shows signs of dehydration, always consult a doctor.

It is crucial to seek medical attention if the diarrhoea persists and your child has these additional symptoms:

- Blood in the stools
- Frequent vomiting
- Abdominal pain, especially if it’s constant and localised
- Poor intake of fluids
- Crying without tears
- Dry and sticky mouth
- Passes urine or wets diapers fewer than five times a day
- Depressed fontanelle (soft spot on infant's head)
- Sunken eyes
- Drowsiness

Treatment Options

The main goal of treatment is to prevent dehydration by replacing lost fluids. Depending on how serious the diarrhoea is and the child’s condition, intravenous hydration may be required. As viruses cause most cases of diarrhoea, antibiotics are not prescribed unless a bacterial infection is suspected.