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What Is Toddler's Diarrhea?
Toddler's diarrhea, also known as chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood is one of the most common causes of chronic diarrhea in otherwise healthy children.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms of Toddler's Diarrhea?
There are many different causes of chronic diarrhea. Toddler's diarrhea is suspected
in a child with chronic diarrhea who is
- Age 6 months - 5 years
- Otherwise healthy
- Gaining weight normally
- Developing normally
Children with toddler's diarrhea often have
- 5-10 loose, watery, large stools per day
- Stools with undigested food particles
- Diarrhea lasting weeks followed by weeks of normal stools
What Causes Toddler’s Diarrhea?
There are several factors that contribute to toddler's diarrhea
- Excessive Fluid Intake - Too much fluid can overwhelm the ability of the
toddler's digestive tract to absorb water and electrolytes resulting in diarrhea.
- Carbohydrate Malabsorption - Fruit juices often contain large amounts
of sugars and carbohydrates such as sorbitol and fructose which are poorly
absorbed in the child's digestive tract.
- Low Fat Diet - Fat can slow down a child's digestion allowing more time
for absorption of nutrients. Diets low in fat may cause food to move through
to rapidly resulting in diarrhea.
- Immature Digestive Tract - The nerves supplying the toddler's digestive
tract may not be fully mature and result in rapid movement of food moving
through the digestive tract. This may not allow adequate time for
absorption resulting in diarrhea.
How Can Toddler's Diarrhea Be Treated & Prevented?
- Limit fruit juice and other high carbohydrate drinks
- Increase the amount of fat and fiber in your child's diet
- Avoid excessive fluid intake and "grazing" with bottles/sippy cups
When Should I Be Concerned My Child's Diarrhea Is More Serious Than Toddler's Diarrhea
Remember, children with toddler's diarrhea are healthy children who are growing and developing normally. If your child shows any of the following signs or symptoms with diarrhea, you should alert your child's doctor.
- Blood in stool
- Weight loss or poor weight gain
- Chronic Fever
- Severe Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Stooling "accidents"
- Greasy or oily stools
- Diarrhea associated with food or dairy
Treating Toddler’s Diarrhea
INCREASE DIETARY FIBER
- Fresh Fruit
- Bread
- Cereal
- Beans
DECREASE SUGAR & CARBOHYDRATE DRINKS
- Fruit Juice
- Sport Drinks
- Cola
INCREASE DIETARY FAT
- Whole Milk
- Butter
- Olive Oil
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