Question
A three-month-old baby has been refusing to eat and showing signs of hunger, with their stool appearing foamy. This condition has persisted for four days. The baby’s overall condition is normal, with no other apparent symptoms, except for a history of one cold. Past diagnoses and treatments have mainly been for the cold, with no other special checks.
Answer
Foamy stool often indicates that the baby is experiencing digestive discomfort. Diarrhea is characterized by increased stool frequency and changes in consistency, such as loose, watery, mucous, or bloody stools. Possible causes of diarrhea in infants may include indigestion and enteritis. When a baby’s stool contains bubbles, it usually suggests indigestion, as poor digestion leads to an increase in food residue, which is then fermented by bacteria in the intestines, causing gas and resulting in foamy stool.