What to Do When a Child Has Diarrhea Symptoms

Question

What are the causes of childhood diarrhea? What are the treatment methods?

Answer

Diarrhea can have numerous causes, including unclean diet, excessive or insufficient milk intake, too rapid introduction of complementary foods, changes in climate, and viral infections. Sometimes, diarrhea is also a symptom of other diseases, such as respiratory infections or Kawasaki disease. Children may experience diarrhea due to allergies to certain foods (e.g., milk) or medications. Therefore, the occurrence of diarrhea can be attributed to various factors. If diarrhea occurs, parents should not arbitrarily give their children antibiotics, as some cases of diarrhea do not require or are prohibited from using antibiotics. It is important to carefully consider the cause of the child’s diarrhea; if it is related to feeding issues, then the feeding method should be changed; if it is due to allergic factors, then exposure to allergens should be avoided; and if a child has persistent diarrhea or large amounts of diarrhea each time, it is advisable to consult a doctor promptly.