Question

How do I treat my baby’s diarrhea? He hasn’t had any vaccinations, and sometimes he has diarrhea three times a day. The other night at around 4 or 5 a.m., he had a bowel movement (usually, it’s normal to have one from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m.), and by 10 a.m. the next morning, he had two more, but the amounts were not much. (Because the mother caught a cold the day before, she fed the baby breast milk, and she herself had diarrhea three times as well). Until yesterday morning around 7 or 8 o’clock, he had one bowel movement, and at 2:30 p.m., he received a vaccination. He stayed in the hospital for forty minutes with no significant discomfort. After returning home, the baby drank some hot water, and he slept deeply and quietly as usual that night. This morning around 5 a.m., he had one bowel movement; he had one in the morning and two more by this afternoon. These three were thinner than usual and slightly thicker than water. The baby is sometimes quite cheerful, and after being fussy, he is fine. He is very happy after each bowel movement.

Answer

Dear Patient: Based on your information, it is suspected that your symptoms may be due to indigestion. It is recommended to use rice porridge to dilute the milk powder for relief and treatment; this method has been very effective. In daily diet, it is advisable to keep it light, avoid spicy, overly cold or greasy foods that are irritating, ensure adequate rest, maintain hygiene, keep relaxed, and have a balanced digestive nutrition. If the condition does not improve or other discomforts occur, it is recommended to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.