Question
A five-month-old infant has recently developed persistent diarrhea, and the parents are seeking expert advice to understand the possible causes and treatment methods.
Answer
The causes of infant diarrhea require appropriate analysis and treatment. If it is due to improper feeding, the feeding method should be adjusted, adding complementary foods in a timely and orderly manner. During an acute diarrhea episode, supply of hard-to-digest high-fat foods should be suspended, and if severe vomiting occurs, the baby should be temporarily fasting for 6 to 8 hours to allow the digestive tract to rest before resuming eating. Breastfeeding infants should resume breastfeeding, while formula-fed infants can be provided with rice gruel, lean meat milk, or low-fat milk. In response to changes in weather, attention should be paid to keeping warm or cooling down, providing a relatively constant temperature environment for the baby. For viral diarrhea common in autumn and winter, the main treatment measures include correcting dehydration, supplementing electrolytes, and symptomatic treatment. Bacterial diarrhea requires administration of antibiotics.