Question
A baby around 6 months old has been experiencing diarrhea for about 20 days, accompanied by a cold. Although the cold symptoms have subsided, the diarrhea has not healed. The stool is bubbly and watery, and cephalosporin antibiotics and glucose have been used for treatment, but there has been no improvement. The parent wants to know if they need to change medications or take other measures.
Answer
If a baby exhibits severe diarrhea (accompanied by vomiting), abdominal pain, bloody stools, or fever, it is usually caused by an infection from viruses or bacteria (such as E. coli, Salmonella, etc.). While some infections can resolve on their own, others can be very serious (such as infections caused by E. coli in undercooked meat). If the baby has these symptoms, it is advisable to take them to see a doctor. The doctor will conduct examinations and may perform stool tests to determine if the diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection.