Question
My child has been having diarrhea recently and has been taking Montmorillonite powder, but the condition fluctuates between good and bad. I consulted a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who said it was caused by damp heat. I don’t understand much about it. What are the differences between damp heat and cold dampness in children’s diarrhea?
Answer
In traditional Chinese medicine, children’s diarrhea is categorized into damp heat and cold dampness types based on different pathological phenomena. Damp heat diarrhea generally occurs during the summer and autumn transition, while cold dampness diarrhea usually happens during the autumn and winter. Children with damp heat diarrhea will have symptoms like thirst and excessive drinking, a red tongue with a yellow greasy coating, and stools resembling egg flowers, along with mucus. Cold dampness diarrhea may present with slight limb edema, short urine, and a yellowish complexion of the face and skin. If children experience severe diarrhea symptoms, parents should take their child to the doctor promptly and avoid blind medication.