Question
A two-month-old female infant recently developed loose stools that are thin and resemble egg white in consistency, with a fishy odor. Since birth, the infant has often had regurgitation, sometimes in large amounts, jet-like , resembling tofu brain in appearance.
Answer
Infants experiencing loose stools, commonly referred to as diarrhea, are characterized by an increase in bowel movements and a change in stool consistency. Common causes of infant diarrhea include indigestion and enteritis. If the baby’s stool contains bubbles, it may indicate indigestion. Indigestion alone can lead to an excess of food residue, which is fermented by intestinal bacteria to produce gas, resulting in frothy stools. Additionally, frothy stools may also be caused by the baby crying for a long time and swallowing too much air. If the baby has vomiting with a sour taste or undigested milk clumps in the vomit, or if there is bloating, the stool may contain bubbles without mucus or pus, increase in bowel movements, yellow or slightly green pasty stools, or a foul-smelling consistency, it may be due to indigestion.