Question
The child is seven months old and has started on solid foods at six months, consisting of rice porridge and congee. No vegetables, oil, or salt have been added. The child’s eating habits have been good with no discomfort or abnormal reactions. But recently, the child’s stool has become soft and disorganized, sometimes watery. Should this situation be a cause for concern? How should it be handled? Please advise on when to seek medical assistance for an infant with disorganized stool.
Answer
Disorganized infant stool may be caused by viral infections leading to enteritis, and a stool test is needed to confirm whether the child has enteritis or dysentery. If it’s bacterial enteritis, cephalosporins are required for treatment; if it’s dysentery, the child should be transferred to a Infectious disease hospital for treatment. Additionally, probiotics can be given to adjust the intestinal flora, and Simethicone can be taken for diarrhea during severe vomiting. If symptoms of dehydration such as reduced urine output, lack of energy, and poor skin elasticity appear, immediate hospitalization for intravenous fluid therapy is necessary. In terms of diet, choose light, soft, and easily digestible foods and avoid high-fat and irritating foods.