Question
A nine-month-old male infant has been suffering from diarrhea for a month, exclusively breastfed, and no complementary foods have been introduced. One month ago, diarrhea began, occurring about 5 to 6 times a day, with loose stools containing blood strands. Stool tests show the presence of pus cells. The infant is in good spirits with no vomiting, but had a fever during the period, suspected to be “enteric bacterial dysentery.” After 10 days of treatment, symptoms improved. How should recurrent diarrhea in infants be managed?
Answer
Firstly, check if the infant has been given iron supplements or large amounts of iron-rich foods, such as animal liver or blood, which may cause pseudo-bloody stools. If the infant’s stool becomes loose, contains more mucus or blood, and the baby cries and is restless during defecation, consider whether it is due to bacterial dysentery or other pathogenic infections causing infectious diarrhea. In this case, immediate medical attention should be sought. If the stool appears like red bean soup, with a dark red color and an unpleasant odor, it may be hemorrhagic necrotizing enteritis;