Question
An 11-month-old baby exclusively drinks breast milk, does not drink water, nor consume other foods. The baby’s stools are hard and occur several days apart. Recently, during defecation, red flesh has been observed to protrude from the anus, retracting on its own after bowel movements. The parents are unclear about the cause and have not sought treatment. They seek help to understand what frequency of bowel movements is considered normal and how to improve the baby’s dietary habits and encourage him to drink water. Moreover, they inquire if the baby’s zinc deficiency might be causing these problems, as recent blood tests have shown a zinc deficiency.
Answer
The protrusion of flesh from the anus during defecation may be due to internal hemorrhoids or anal prolapse caused by constipation. It is recommended to use children’s Qizhen pills for treatment, which have been found to be effective. It is also suggested to let the baby eat more bananas for bowel regulation. Most importantly, ensure the baby drinks plenty of water. For an 11-month-old, it is time to start introducing complementary foods gradually.