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What Causes Diarrhoea In Infants?

Posted on Mon, 18 May 2015

Question: Hi,

My baby is 13 months old. from past 7 days he is suffering from diarrhea. the stools for 6-8 per day. but not too watery stools. it was some times yellow and some times green. we have given OFLOMAC-M for 3 days. and now we are giving him bifolac and Z&D drops. but still its not reduced. we are giving him only curd rice, soy milk and rice water. baby is active and playing only. our doctor told not to give fruits as the sweetness will worse diarrhea.

But we are very worried as from past 7 days its not reduced.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Looks like viral diarrhea - if the kid is active you can wait till 10 days

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.

It seems your kid is having viral diarrhea. Once it starts it will take 7-10 days to completely get better. Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.

There is no need to use antibiotics like Oflomac-M unless there is blood in the motion. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhoea.

I suggest you use zinc supplements (Z&D drops 1ml once daily for 14 days) & ORS (Each small packet mixed in 200ml of potable water and keep giving sip by sip) as hydration is very important and crucial part of treatment. If there is vomiting you can use Syrup Ondansetron (as prescribed by your paediatrician).
Regarding diet - You can use cerelac...any flavour will do. Avoid fruit juices as they might aggravate diarrhea. You can give zinc supplements & ORS apart from normal vegetarian porridges & soups.
Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (36 minutes later)

Hello Doctor,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

But in diet i have a doubt. the kid is having Nestum Rice cereal - Mixed fruits and vegatables.

But the doctor told not to give as it will have the sweetness. so we have stopped it. but my kid will have only this. he wont like idly or other. and is it ok to give rasam or dal rice, or sambar to him? because he wont like curd. and is arrowroot ganji is ok to give?

please give a complete diet to follow. as i left with no options to feed him as whetever he eats i have to stop like cereal, sambar rice.

and is it ok to give ISOMIL soy milk?

so please give about diet and other things to follow.

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Diet in diarrhea

Detailed Answer:
Hi....regarding diet -

1. You need to avoid only fruit juices and direct sugar as it might cause osmotic diarrhea. You need not stop Cerelac mixed fruit and vegetable.

2. You can give rasam, dal rice and sambar.

3. Arrow root kanji is another good option.

4. Avoid too much of ghee and oily items as they can again cause irritant diarrhea.

5. You can give isomil.... No issues.

6. Avoid fruit juices and direct sugar.... That's all. Otherwise continue all others normally.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (5 hours later)

Hello doctor,

Thank you so much for the reply.

we have done stool test .

i am just sending you the report. please have a look and reply us. Is there anything to be worried.

Stool test report:
Color:yellow
Consistency:semiliquid
Mucus:present
Blood:absent

Ova:Nill
Cysts:Nill
Trophozites:Nill
Rbcs:Nill
Leukocytes: occasional
Reducing substances: absent

We are first time parents and much worried too...

So please let us know about this.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
This is completely normal stool report - similar to viral diarrhea

Detailed Answer:
Hi...This is completely normal stool report - similar to viral diarrhea. Nothing to worry about. Do not use antibiotics.

I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. In this way even in health care magic you can follow up always with a single doctor who knows the history of your kid completely. Please find the link below -

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (5 days later)

Hello Doctor,

Once again thank you for your response.

But my baby is still passing motion 4 times a day. we are giving him Nestum rice cereal mixed fruits, and curd rice only. the bifolac and Z&D drops we are still giving. but he is not settled till now. He is having from 14th april onwards.

He is bot showing much interest to have foods. we have to make him to eat forcibly. some times while playing with water he will have. but the baby is active and playing well.

Is there anything we have to be worry? the motion color is yellow but not a loose stool...

what else we can do? any other foods can be given to him? he is passing urine normally.

I heard from my mom denying solids is common in summer. is it so? he is hungry but not interested to have. how i can say is sometimes if we make him to play with water he will have. but we are worried as he is having cold.

its heartbreaking to us as the bay is not having proper food and passing motion like this. we are worried even about his loosing weight also. ( we have not checked but while seeing the baby we felt) other than that the baby is active.

So please guide us what to do.

Thank you sir.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Suggested on recovering diarrhea

Detailed Answer:
Hi...

1. He's recovering from viral diarrhea. You need not worry.

2. You need not add anything more.

3. Appetite will return to normal in 1-2 weeks.

4. Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar