Diarrhea is poop that is loose or watery. It's usually caused by a virus (type of germ) but can also be from food allergies or changes in diet.
Make any diet changes and give plenty of liquids and/or an oral electrolyte solution (such as Pedialyte®, Enfalyte®, or a store brand), as recommended by your healthcare provider. Giving plenty of liquids will help make sure your child doesn't get dehydrated (not have enough water in the body). You can buy the oral electrolyte solution at drugstores or supermarkets without a prescription.
Here's how to care for your child.
Giving liquids:
- Give plenty of liquids as recommended by your healthcare provider. You can give an oral rehydration solution to replace lost liquids. It has the right amount of water, sugar, and salt for kids. A child who isn't throwing up can drink as much as they would like. You also can give frozen electrolyte pops.
- Don't offer juice, sodas, or sports drinks. They can make diarrhea worse.
Giving food:
- It may take time for your child to feel like eating solid foods. Offer their regular diet as soon as they feel comfortable.
- Only change your child's diet if told to by your healthcare provider. You may need to remove some foods, such as greasy or fried foods, from their diet.
Medicines:
- Don't give your child medicines for nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, unless your healthcare provider prescribes them.
- If your child has a fever and your healthcare provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand).
- Don't give aspirin to your child or teen, because it's linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
Other information:
Keep your child home from school or daycare until they have no vomiting, diarrhea, or fever for at least 24 hours.
Your child:
- Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration, such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, extreme thirst, peeing less than usual, darker than usual pee, crying with little or no tears, or decreased alertness
- Has severe belly pain
You know your child best. If they seem very sick or have symptoms that worry you, call your healthcare provider or take them to the ER.
What causes diarrhea? Infections in the intestines cause most cases of diarrhea. Germs that can cause an infection include:
- Viruses (viral gastroenteritis, also known as "stomach flu")
- Bacteria (bacteria are often the cause of food poisoning)
- Parasites
Other causes include drinking too much juice, having food allergies, or taking certain medicines.
How do oral electrolyte solutions help keep kids hydrated? These solutions contain a balanced mix of water, electrolytes (sodium, chloride, and potassium), and sugars (glucose). They replace the liquids and electrolytes that a child loses through diarrhea or vomiting, which helps prevent or treat dehydration and keep the body's electrolytes balanced.
Does my child need an antibiotic? In kids, diarrhea is usually caused by a virus. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, not viruses. If your healthcare provider thinks your child's diarrhea is from bacteria, they will prescribe an antibiotic.
How can we prevent diarrhea? It can help to:
- Have everyone in your family wash their hands well and often. They should wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer if soap and water aren't available. This is especially important after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food.
- Clean objects and surfaces regularly with disinfectant, especially doorknobs and other things that get touched a lot.
- Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them.
- Clean kitchen counters and cooking utensils well after they've been in contact with raw meat.
- Refrigerate meats and fish as soon as you bring them home from the store and cook them well. Refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible after cooking.
- Avoid drinking from streams, springs, or lakes.
