Question
The infant has chronic diarrhea for months, with frequent bowel movements that are loose and sometimes watery, sometimes containing bubbles and sometimes mucus, with less green stool, and stools mixed with urine. After trying probiotics, attapulgite, maltose granules, and wake-up spleen granules without effect, the diarrhea persisted after discontinuing breast milk for half a month and switching to formula milk, with increased frequency and smell of the bowel movements. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) massage and herbal medicine have not shown significant effects, and the infant can only drink porridge as supplementary food, avoiding adding new foods such as eggs, lean meat, and fruits due to fear of aggravating the diarrhea.
Answer
The infant’s diarrhea is not of the physiological type that does not affect growth and development. It may be lactose intolerance, for which lactose-free formula milk can solve the diarrhea. It is considered that it may not be solely lactose intolerance, and there is no more evidence to suggest milk protein allergy. It is recommended to continue using probiotics, maltose granules, and zinc supplements for 10 to 14 days, and gradually introduce supplementary foods such as rice flour and soft noodles, starting with small amounts of each.