Infectious Diarrhea

Most kids battle diarrhea from time to time, but the good news is that it's often caused by infections that don't last long and usually are more disruptive than dangerous. Still, it's important to know what to do to relieve and even prevent diarrhea.

Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea — frequent runny or watery bowel movements (poop) — is usually brought on by gastrointestinal (GI) infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

The specific

In general, infections that cause diarrhea are highly contagious. Most cases can be spread to others for as long as someone has diarrhea, and some infections can be contagious even longer.

Diarrheal infections can be spread through:

• dirty hands
• contaminated food or water
• some

  coxsackievirus.

  Many different types of bacteria and parasites can cause GI and diarrhea. Here are a few that you may have heard about:

  • E. coli bacteria: Most E. coli infections are spread through
  • Cryptosporidium parasite: Found especially in drinking and recreational water, this parasite often is the culprit behind diarrhea epidemics in child-care centers and other public places. Cryptosporidiosis often causes watery diarrhea that can last for 2 weeks or more.

  Diarrheal infections are a normal part of childhood for many kids, but diarrhea can be a symptom of a number of non-infectious diseases and conditions, especially when it lasts several weeks or longer. It can indicate lactose intolerance, or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

  Signs and Symptoms

  Symptoms typically start with crampy abdominal pain followed by diarrhea that usually lasts no more than a few days. Infections with many of the viruses, bacteria, and parasites that cause diarrhea also can bring on other symptoms, such as:

  • vomiting
  • weight loss
  • Make sure kids food and water also can carry infectious germs.
  • Wash kitchen counters and cooking utensils thoroughly after they've been in contact with raw meat, especially poultry.
  • Refrigerate meats as soon as possible after bringing them home from the supermarket, and cook them until they're no longer pink. After meals, refrigerate all leftovers as soon as possible.
  • Never drink from streams, springs, or lakes unless local health authorities have certified that the water is safe for drinking. In some developing countries, it may be safer to drink only bottled water and other drinks rather than water from a tap. Also, exercise caution when buying prepared foods from street vendors, especially if no local health agency oversees their operations.
  • Don't wash pet cages or bowls in the same sink that you use to prepare family meals.
  • Keep pets' feeding areas (especially those of reptiles) separate from family eating areas.

  When to Call the Doctor

  Call your doctor if your child has diarrhea and is younger than 6 months old or has:

  • a severe or prolonged episode of diarrhea
  • fever of 102?F or higher
  • repeated vomiting, or refusal to drink fluids
  • severe abdominal pain
  • diarrhea that contains blood or mucus

  Call the doctor immediately if your child seems to be dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include:

  • dry or sticky mouth
  • few or no tears when crying
  • eyes that look sunken into the head
  • soft spot (fontanelle) on top of the head that looks sunken
  • lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
  • lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
  • dry, cool skin
  • lethargy or irritability
  • fatigue or dizziness in an older child

  Caring for Your Child

  Mild diarrhea is usually no cause for concern as long as your child is acting normally and drinking and eating enough. Mild diarrhea usually passes within a few days and kids recover completely with care at home, rest, and plenty of fluids.

  A child with mild diarrhea who isn't dehydrated or vomiting can continue eating and drinking the usual foods and fluids, including breast milk or formula for infants and milk for kids over 1 year old. In fact, continuing a regular diet may even reduce the duration of the diarrhea episode, while also offering proper nutrition. Of course, you may want to give a child smaller portions of food until the diarrhea ends.

  Antibiotics or antiviral medications are not prescribed for cases of diarrhea caused by bacteria and viruses because most kids recover on their own. But antibiotics are sometimes given to very young children or those with weak immune systems to prevent a bacterial infection (such as salmonellosis) from spreading through the body.

  If the illness is caused by a parasite, it can be treated with antiparasitic medicines to cure or shorten the course of the illness. The doctor may order a never be rehydrated with water alone because it doesn't contain adequate amounts of sodium, potassium, and other important minerals and nutrients.

  Doctors often recommend that kids who show signs of mild dehydration be given oral rehydration solutions to replace body fluids quickly. These are available in most grocery stores and pharmacies without a prescription. Brand-name solutions often end in "lyte." Your doctor will tell you what kind to give, how much, and for how long. Never try to make your own ORS at home unless your doctor says it's OK and gives you a precise recipe.

  In some cases, kids with severe diarrhea may need to receive IV fluids at the hospital for a few hours to help combat dehydration.

  The best way to manage your child's diarrhea depends on how severe it is, what germ caused it, and your child's age, weight, and symptoms. So be sure to ask your doctor for recommendations about treatment.

  Reviewed by:

University Hospitals Online

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