What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a frequent, watery bowel movement that most frequently is caused by a viral infection but occasionally is caused by a bacteria or certain foods.

What are the symptoms of diarrhea?

Home care

If your child seems to have a mild illness and is not taking in as much by mouth, try increasing fluid intake by offering small amounts more often.

If your child is on solid foods:

Leave the diaper off as long as possible to keep the buttocks dry and to avoid diaper rash.

Do NOT give your child any anti-diarrhea medication.

Use acetaminophen (Tylenol®, Tempra®, or Panadol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) for fever, pain, and discomfort. Avoid ibuprofen if your child is dehydrated or unable to take anything by mouth.

Follow the package instructions to determine the appropriate dose by your child's WEIGHT or age for acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Do not use aspirin because of the increased risk of Reye's Syndrome with certain infections.

Warning signs - Call our office for advice if:

Your child becomes lethargic (limp and unresponsive), call our office now.

You notice red blood in your child's diarrhea, call our office now.

Your child has black, tarry stools, call our office now

Your child refuses to drink, call our office now.

Your child has any signs of dehydration such as no tears while crying, dry lips and mouth, fewer wet diapers (around 6 per day is normal), or sunken eyes, call our office now.

Your child continues to have diarrhea after 3 days, call our office now.

Your child develops a fever, please refer to the fever page.

You have any questions or concerns, or if you have any doubts about the severity of your child's symptoms, call our office now.