Question
What should be done if an 8-month-old baby starts to have diarrhea after eating leeks?
Answer
It is recommended for parents to take the baby to the hospital for a stool test to determine if the issue is due to indigestion or enteritis. If the baby has a fever, further observation may be needed to see if the intestinal disorder is caused by the fever. For indigestion, symptomatic anti-inflammatory medication and probiotics can be administered, and in some cases, intravenous therapy may be necessary. In terms of breastfeeding, shortening the intervals between feedings can allow the baby’s gastrointestinal tract to rest and increase fluid intake. If the baby is consuming complementary foods, it is advised to temporarily stop or reduce the intake until symptoms improve. Additionally, since the baby does not use a bottle and the mother has stopped breastfeeding, other appropriate feeding methods should be considered. When resuming complementary foods, it should be done gradually to avoid giving difficult-to-digest foods.