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What Causes Loose Motions In Infants?

Posted on Mon, 7 Jul 2014

Question: Hi, my baby is 1 year 5 months old. She has watery loose motions from last 3 days. It started on Saturday(14th June) with vomiting and then loose motions. As per doctors prescriptions we gave EAMCET (3 times a day) and OFlex (2 times a day). After a day vomiting got stopped but loose motions still was watery. Next day doctor prescribed enterogermina (liquid bottles one per day for 5 days) and Z & D drops (1 ml a day for 14 days). Its 2 days we are giving these medicines but still the watery motions are not stopping. Frequency of watery motions is around 10 times a day. We are giving OSR water from 3 days. Today we started giving sporlac powder two times a day, but watery motion is not stopping. She is sleeping normally at night but she is getting up in the middle and crying a lot. We are bit worried now. Kindly help us in this regard. We stopped giving fruits and fruit juices and milk. We are giving curd rice, moong dal rice, kichdi, butter mik, sagoo.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Look for signs of dehydration

Detailed Answer:
Namasthe
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day

Dear XXXX

Being a parent myself I understand your concern and apprehension.
Let me first reaasure you, there is no cause for concern going by the description given by you.
Majority of loose motion in children are viral in origin. The aim of treatment is

1. Replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost in stools
2. Ensure adequate nutrition
3. Symptomatic treatment of associated symptoms

The stool frequency of ten per day should not be worrisome if following criteria are fullfilled
1. Baby is accepting feeds well( As you have mentioned she is sleeping well)
2. Urine Output is adequate
3. No signs of dehydration: The mucosa over the tongue is moist - implying the baby is well hydrated
4. Absence of blood in stools
5. Absence of fever

Excessive crying after waking up could be related to hunger or could be due to diaper rash. Is there redness in skin surrounding anus?
The treatment prescribed is right. I would suggest you to discontinue Oflex which is an antibiotic( antibiotic have no role: they may themself worsen the symptom by causing antibiotic associated diarhoea )

1. Continue WHO recommended ORS
2. Give home made ORS like D+Dhal water, kanji,
3. Wheat porridge/Dalia/Lapsi will be good to maintain nutrition
4. Avoid Milk: There is usually lactose intolerance and may worsen loose stools. Avoid it for next 1 week
5. Curd rice is a good option, continue giving that
6. Continue Zinc drops: Zinc is beneficial during loose motion
7. Continue Enterogermina which is probiotic
8. Start Syrup Wallamycin 5 ml three times a day for 2 days

Do not worry , she will recover soon.
Do get back to me if you need any assistance anytime, will be glad to assist you.

Take Care
Best Regards
Dr Deepak Kishore
MBBS,MS,MCH
Consultant Pediatric Surgeon

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

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (18 minutes later)

Thank you very much for your reply.

We will stop giving oflex and will start giving wallamycin. Is it ok to give sporlac powder 2 times a day?. Also, is it ok if she plays actively or do we need to stop her playing around?

We will stop giving oflex and will start giving wallamycin. Is it ok to give sporlac powder 2 times a day?. Also, is it ok if she plays actively or do we need to stop her playing around?

As you mentioned :
1. Give home made ORS like D+Dhal water, Is it dal+rice or only dal water
2. Kanji, is it rice ganji?
Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do not stop her from playing

Detailed Answer:
Dear Mr XXXXXXX

A playing child is a happy child. So please don't stop her playing. It's okay to give sporolac twice a day.
A playful child is very reassuring to physician that the baby is fine and healthy.

Take care

Best Regards
Deepak

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

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (14 minutes later)

Thank you very much for your response

As you mentioned :
1. Give home made ORS like D+Dhal water, Is it dal+rice or only dal water
2. Kanji, is it rice ganji?

Thanks,
Shiiva

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are right

Detailed Answer:
Good morning
Dear Bro

You are right . Home made ors is Dhal water and others. Kanji is rice kanji.

Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy life.

Take care
Regards
Deepak

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