Diarrhea in Infants
Alternate Names : Infantile Diarrhea, Infant Diarrhea
What can be done to prevent the condition?
The best way to prevent diarrhea in infants is for the caregiver to wash his or
her hands well before preparing feedings and especially after using the toilet.
Other important steps to take are as follows:
Discard any unused formula in the bottle after the infant is finished feeding.
Keep all items placed in the infant's mouth, such as pacifiers or bottle
nipples, clean.
Keep other young children in the household who have diarrhea away from the infant.
Refrigerate formula that is mixed in larger quantities and discard
formula that is not used in 24 hours.
Use clean water when preparing infant formula.
Wash bottles and nipples well in hot, soapy water.
Food poisoning can also be minimized by cleaning all
utensils, cleaning cooking or preparing surfaces, and cooking meat until it is
cooked through and no longer pink.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Usually there are no serious long-term effects if diarrhea in infants is
effectively treated to avoid
dehydration. In countries where access to intravenous fluids and
medication is limited, babies may suffer from other diseases or diarrhea may be
fatal.
If the illness is caused by a serious infection or the infant becomes extremely
dehydrated, there may be
more serious long-term effects. If an infant becomes severely dehydrated, the
amount of fluid in the bloodstream decreases. This makes it difficult for the
body organs to get enough oxygen and nutrients. If this is severe enough,
it can cause death. Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death in
children around the world.
Diarrhea can last a long time. If it is accompanied by persistent loss of
appetite, it can lead to nutritional problems. This, however, is
unusual. Diarrhea can sometimes cause temporary problems with digesting milk
products, a condition known as lactose intolerance. This usually
resolves on its own. Diarrhea may also cause severe diaper rash.
What are the risks to others?
Diarrhea caused by a virus or bacterial infection may be
contagious. It is important to wash hands well to prevent spreading germs. The
elderly, young children, or others who have weakened immune systems are at
increased risk. Diarrhea can cause more serious symptoms in these
individuals.
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