What causes a child's diarrhea? What to do when your infants have diarrhea?

What causes my child’s diarrhea?

It is common for young children to have diarrhea³³ and this is due to various reasons. Viruses (like rotavirus and adenovirus), bacteria, parasites, changes in diet (such as drinking too much fruit juice), problems within the intestines (such as allergy to foods), and the use of some medicines³³ can trigger diarrhea in your child.
The stomach and intestines, collectively called the gut, are home to both good and bad bacteria. Ideally, good or friendly bacteria outnumber the bad bacteria, and this keeps your child’s gut healthy. In situations when this balance is disrupted, bad or harmful bacteria attacks the gut and cause diarrhea¹⁷,³⁴.
In diarrhea, the main danger is dehydration or the loss of fluids in the body. The younger the child, the more quickly this can happen³⁵.

When should I take my child to the doctor?

If your child shows one or more of the below signs of dehydration call the doctor³⁵.
- the inside of the mouth is very dry (no saliva)
- no tears when crying
- eyes seem sunken
- weight loss
- low energy
- hard to wake up
- confused
- weakness (hard to sit up or walk, floppy)

What to do when your child has diarrhea

Oral rehydration is the first-line treatment for all of the
children with diarrhea³⁶. Giving your child probiotics,  is also effective in reducing the duration and intensity of symptoms of diarrhea³³.