Question
My baby is 50 days old and has been on mixed feeding. Until about 40 days ago, he had been having two to three bowel movements a day, but since then, he has been experiencing diarrhea, with seven to eight bowel movements daily. The stools are sometimes loose, sometimes paste-like, and the color remains mostly yellow. After a stool test, how should we handle this situation?
Answer
After a baby has diarrhea, reasonable diet and appropriate medication can shorten the course of the illness and help the baby recover quickly. However, improper handling may lead to dehydration, acidosis, or electrolyte imbalance, even posing a risk to the baby’s life. It may also trigger delayed diseases, leading to malnutrition and affecting the baby’s growth and development. Therefore, parents should master some basic home treatment and care methods. The principles of diarrhea treatment include: (1) preventing dehydration; (2) correcting dehydration; (3) maintaining normal diet; (4) using medication reasonably. For babies with mild symptoms and no obvious dehydration, parents can provide care at home. However, for babies with severe symptoms, immediate medical attention is required, which may necessitate hospitalization. Is there anything else you would like to know or need assistance with?