Diarrhoea in Toddlers: Home Remedies & When to Call the Doctor

Diarrhoea entails the passage of loose or watery stools and may be accompanied with other symptoms such as vomiting and fever. It can be deadly in children below 5 if not promptly managed or treated as it may lead to severe dehydration. Common causes include food allergy or intolerance, unhygienic food preparation, malnutrition, stomach flu or bacterial infection.

See top ways to manage the situation and when your child should see a doctor…

Replace lost fluids immediately. Administer ORS – a mixture of clean water, salt and sugar hygienically prepared at home – to replace lost electrolytes and rehydrate your child. You should also give some clean water at regular intervals throughout the day.

Avoid giving over the counter medications to reduce diarrhea. Make sure you ask your doctor first before giving any medication to stop or reduce loose or watery stools as some are said to be unsafe for children below 12.

READ ALSO: 5 Ways To Prevent Constipation in Toddlers

Make some dietary changes. If your child’s diarrhoea is mild, it will likely resolve on its own within two days or less, without treatment. While it lasts, make a few tweaks in his diet. Let him eat small portions of nutritious meals throughout the day instead of 3 large portions. Also, give starchy foods including bread, pasta, cooked white potato and dry toast. You may minimize dairy foods including milk until at least 24 hours after symptoms stop as they may cause gas and bloating, making diarrhoea worse.

In addition, avoid giving caffeine and carbonated drinks, fried, greasy and spicy foods, processed or fast foods and pastries. Avoid giving fruit juices too as fluid replacement as they may make loose stools worse. Apple juice in particular should be avoided as it contains sorbitol, a natural sugar which can make symptoms worse.

Also, avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause stomach gas such as citrus fruits, peppers, beans and berries.

Maintain proper hygiene. Beefing up overall hygiene in your home, especially with food preparation and regular handwashing, may also help, and will aid preventing repeat infection as well.

See a doctor. You should see a doctor if frequency of toilet trips, vomiting and other symptoms get worse. This may signal chronic diarrhoea and requires prompt medication attention.

Take your child to the hospital immediately if he has blood or mucus in his stools, stomach pains, sunken eyes, does not  urinate for up to 6 hours, appears extremely fatigued, has dry or sticky mouth or a fever that does not abate, despite applying the remedies above.

Your child’s diarrhoea may also be a symptom of another ailment. Seeing a doctor helps you fish out any underlying cause and get prompt help for your child.