Question
What could be the cause of infants vomiting and then experiencing diarrhea with black stools?
Answer
In infants, vomiting followed by diarrhea with black stools can be caused by a variety of factors. These can be categorized into non-infectious and infectious causes.
- Non-infectious causes may include physiological diarrhea, which is a mild loose stool condition that infants may experience shortly after birth.
- Infectious causes can involve direct gastrointestinal infections such as rotavirus or norovirus infections, as well as indirect gastrointestinal symptoms caused by other infections, like respiratory infections. Treatment can be symptomatic based on the condition. For example, oral bicarbonate or light acid protein can be taken to help alleviate diarrhea, and protease compounds or multi-enzyme tablets can also be used to aid digestion. If symptoms persist or worsen, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly for a more comprehensive and accurate diagnosis and treatment.