Question
A three-and-a-half-month-old baby recently developed diarrhea symptoms, seemingly related to the mother’s diet. The mother had eaten bananas a few days prior and noticed that the baby started having diarrhea, not severe but occurring every time the baby strains, about 5 to 6 times a day. The mother worries it might be due to eating too many bananas. Currently, the baby is breastfed and has started eating egg yolks, drinks apple juice daily, and the baby’s stomach often makes loud gurgling sounds. Since yesterday, the baby has been crying loudly and seems a bit drowsy, getting tired after playing for a while. What could be the cause of this, and the mother is quite confused. Additionally, the stool seems to contain egg yolk; what could be the reason for this?
Answer
The baby is showing typical symptoms of dyspepsia and spleen-stomach coldness, which are caused by the mother consuming cold foods leading to vomiting and diarrhea. During the treatment process, it is first recommended to treat the mother. Suggestions include stopping the use of apple juice and egg yolks, as babies of this age are not yet able to effectively absorb these foods. Babies at this age are not advised to take medication; the mother can take Fuzi Lizi Wan (Cinnamon and Aconite Pill) extract tablets, 15 pills per dose, then continue breastfeeding. During breastfeeding, the mother should pay attention to her own diet, avoiding excessive intake of cold, spicy, or interfering foods. Wishing the baby a quick recovery.