Question
A parent inquired about their four-month-old baby’s diarrhea. The child’s stools began to become looser from the afternoon two days ago, and by yesterday afternoon, they were watery. The parent mentioned that some family elders believe this might be due to the parent not cleaning the baby’s feeding bottle thoroughly when they went out, leading to the baby consuming spoiled milk. The parent is skeptical about this viewpoint and is worried about the baby continuing to have diarrhea.
Answer
The doctor advises the parent to carefully inspect and test the baby’s stool to determine if it is due to indigestion or an intestinal infection. They should also observe for signs of fever, which could be a cause of intestinal dysfunction. If diagnosed with indigestion, consider giving the child oral tonics likeJianpi San oral liquid or Simeta, and in severe cases, medical attention is required for intravenous treatment. Additionally, it is recommended that parents reduce the frequency of changing diapers to allow the gastrointestinal system a rest. Encourage the baby to drink more water, and if complementary foods are being introduced, they should be paused or reduced in quantity until the condition improves and then gradually resumed. Pay special attention not to feed the baby with difficult-to-digest foods.