Diarrhoea is large, runny, frequent or watery poo. It’s common in children. Show
Diarrhoea can be short term, persistent or chronic. Short-term diarrhoea The most common cause of short-term diarrhoea in children is gastroenteritis or ‘gastro’. Your child might also get diarrhoea if they’ve been taking medications like antibiotics for another illness. Sometimes but not often, short-term diarrhoea is a sign of a more serious illness like appendicitis. Persistent diarrhoea Children might sometimes get persistent diarrhoea after a bout of gastro. In this situation, the diarrhoea is caused by a type of temporary lactose intolerance. Chronic diarrhoea It might be caused by: Some toddlers with chronic diarrhoea might be drinking too much fruit juice. Toddler’s diarrhoea is when young children have chronic diarrhoea, but they’re otherwise healthy and developing well. We don’t know what causes this kind of diarrhoea. Symptoms of diarrhoeaIf your child has diarrhoea, they’ll have large, runny, frequent or watery poo. The colour of the poo might vary from brown to green, and you might notice bits of partially broken down food in the poo. The smell can be very nasty. Other symptoms that might come with diarrhoea include stomach pain or cramps, bloating, nausea, vomiting or fever. Severe and long-lasting diarrhoea might lead to dehydration, which can be a serious problem. Dehydration is more likely if children also have vomiting and can’t keep fluids down. Does your child need to see a doctor about diarrhoea?If your child is under 6 months old and has diarrhoea, always see your GP. It’s also a good idea to see your GP if your child:
Take your child to a hospital emergency department straight away if they have diarrhoea and they:
You know your child best, so trust your instincts if your child doesn’t seem well. Signs that your child has a serious illness that requires urgent medical attention include severe pain, drowsiness, pale or blue skin, dehydration, breathing difficulties, seizures and reduced responsiveness. Tests for diarrhoeaIf the diarrhoea is caused by a specific virus, bacteria or parasite, a test of your child’s poo will show what the problem is. If the diarrhoea is chronic, your doctor might order some blood and poo tests to look for other underlying causes. Treatment for diarrhoeaFluids Give your child small amounts to drink often – for example, a few mouthfuls every 15 minutes. It’s best to use an oral rehydration fluid like Gastrolyte, Hydralyte, Pedialyte or Repalyte. You can buy these fluids over the counter from a pharmacy. These products might come as premade liquid, powder or icy poles for freezing. Make sure that you make up the liquid carefully according to the instructions on the packet. If you can’t get oral rehydration fluid, you can use diluted lemonade, cordial or fruit juice. Use 1 part of lemonade or juice to 4 parts of water. Full-strength lemonade, cordial or fruit juice might make the diarrhoea worse, so don’t give these to your child. If you have a young breastfed baby, keep breastfeeding but feed more often. You can give your child extra oral rehydration fluid between feeds. If your baby is bottle fed, give them oral rehydration fluid for the first 24 hours only and then reintroduce full-strength formula in smaller more frequent feeds. You can still offer extra oral rehydration fluids between feeds. Getting your child to drink Food Additional treatments If your GP thinks your child’s diarrhoea is caused by temporary lactose intolerance following gastroenteritis, the GP might suggest your child swaps to a lactose-free milk until the diarrhoea improves. If you’re breastfeeding a baby with this kind of diarrhoea, it’s OK to keep breastfeeding. For formula-fed babies, your doctor will advise you about which formula to choose. Don’t give your child antidiarrhoea medicines. There’s no evidence to show that these medicines work. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you about the best treatment options for your child. Preventing diarrhoeaIf your child has had gastroenteritis and diarrhoea, you can help prevent the spread of this infection by making sure everyone in the family washes their hands regularly and doesn’t share drink bottles, cups or food utensils. It’s best to keep your child away from other children and school or child care until they’ve had no diarrhoea for at least 24 hours. Nothing can slow down a child's fun – or interfere with family plans – more than a case of diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common condition that occurs when stool has too much water in it. "The colon is designed to absorb water so that the stool has form and consistency. At times, the stool absorbs too much water, resulting in diarrhea,” explains Lauren Lazar, M.D., Pediatric Gastroenterologist with Children's Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern. "If your child has a loose or liquid stool at least three or more times per day, it's probably diarrhea.” The best treatment for your child's diarrhea may depend on its cause, but there are ways to provide relief from diarrhea symptoms. Learn how to treat diarrhea in kids, including advice on anti-diarrheal medicines, home remedies and the best foods to give your child. What can cause diarrhea in kids?Usually, when children get diarrhea, it's considered "acute,” meaning it lasts from a few days up to a week. The most common cause of acute diarrhea is some sort of infection, whether viral, bacterial or parasitic. Beyond stomach bugs, diarrhea in kids can also be triggered by other issues, including: Chronic diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts longer than 2-4 weeks and is less common. Like acute diarrhea, it can be caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection. Chronic diarrhea might also be triggered by underlying inflammation in the body, genetic or autoimmune conditions such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, or functional GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. What can I give my child to stop diarrhea?Usually, medicine is not necessary to treat diarrhea in kids. In most cases, acute infectious diarrhea will stop when the body clears out the infection. "Diarrhea is like a cough when you have a cold. Your gut is trying to get the bad stuff out,” explains Dr. Lazar. "If you slow down the gut with an anti-diarrheal medicine during infectious diarrhea, you're keeping the infection inside.” If your child's diarrhea lasts more than a few days, check with your pediatrician to determine the cause and best treatment. For chronic diarrhea, your doctor might suggest a change of diet, medication or other ongoing treatment. Information about diarrhea medicine for kids
What are home remedies for diarrhea in kids?There is no one specific food, drink or home remedy that will stop your child's diarrhea. The best treatment for your child's diarrhea is supportive care. To provide relief from diarrhea symptoms, focus on:
"With diarrhea, the body loses salts and electrolytes, so it's very important to help your child stay hydrated,” says Dr. Lazar. "Avoid juice and other sugary beverages.” To keep a child with diarrhea hydrated, offer plenty of fluids, such as:
What should you feed a child who has diarrhea?If your child has diarrhea, it's important to feed them a healthy, well-balanced diet in addition to plenty of fluids. In the past, doctors suggested the "BRAT” diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) as a solution to help children with diarrhea. Now, many doctors don't recommend it. "The BRAT diet is restrictive and does not necessarily help stop diarrhea,” explains Dr. Lazar. "Instead, we recommend that children continue to eat a nutritious, well-rounded diet, as there is evidence that the intestine heals when the child is fed.” For breastfed babies and children, breast milk continues to be a great option for nutrition through diarrhea. "Breast milk is easily absorbed and has more nutrients than electrolyte solutions,” says Dr. Lazar. However, parents should keep in mind that infants, especially newborns, are very susceptible to dehydration with diarrhea, so if you notice any change in a baby's stool pattern, you should contact your pediatrician. In certain cases of diarrhea, your child's pediatrician might suggest a dairy-free or low-sugar diet – on a short-term basis. If your child's diarrhea persists, try keeping a food diary. For some people, certain foods can trigger diarrhea. For example, some patients with irritable bowel syndrome notice that high-fat, high-sugar or spicy foods tend to cause problems. For some children, gluten or dairy might trigger diarrhea. If you sense that a particular food is causing a problem for your child, write it down and discuss it with your doctor. Will fiber or certain foods stop my child's diarrhea?Fiber is often used to regulate bowel movements and can be used in both constipated and diarrheal states, depending on the type of fiber in the food. Pectin, a naturally occurring substance in food, can also be used to thicken stools. Certain fiber-rich foods may help slow your child's diarrhea. High-fiber foods that may help with diarrhea include:
Discuss with your doctor if a fiber supplement is appropriate to give your child. When should I take my child to the doctor for diarrhea?Call a physician about diarrhea if your child:
"Even if your child is staying hydrated, I would recommend going to the pediatrician if the diarrhea is not improving after two or three days – just to make sure no other evaluations are needed,” recommends Dr. Lazar. Learn more about childhood diarrhea and gastroenterologyThe Pediatric Gastroenterology Division at Children's Health offers specialized programs to help children and their families manage a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions. Learn more about our GI program, services and support we offer children and families.
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