When treating viral gastroenteritis — which can last 5-14 days — it’s important to prevent fluid loss. Offer additional breast milk or an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to infants and young children. Water alone doesn’t have enough sodium, potassium, and other nutrients to safely rehydrate very young children.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about the amount of fluids your child needs, how to make sure they get them, when to give them, and how to watch for dehydration. Older children with diarrhea can drink anything they like to stay hydrated, including ORS and brand-name products (their names usually end in “lyte”).
Popsicles can also be a good way to get fluids into a child who’s been vomiting and needs to rehydrate slowly. If symptoms last longer than two weeks, also consult a doctor.
Medications like laxatives or antibiotics can also lead to diarrhea in children as well as adults. For mild diarrhea caused by medication, keep your child safely hydrated. If a course of antibiotics is causing your child’s diarrhea, be sure to continue the medication and call your doctor.
Studies show that yogurt with live cultures or probiotics can help ease diarrhea caused by antibiotics. Cultures and probiotics help replenish healthy gut bacteria killed by antibiotics.
Treatment for food poisoning-related diarrhea is the same as for the diarrhea caused by infection: Keep your child hydrated and call your doctor with any questions.
Dehydration is one of the most worrisome complications of diarrhea in children. Mild diarrhea usually doesn’t cause significant fluid loss, but moderate or severe diarrhea can. Severe dehydration is dangerous; it can cause seizures, brain damage, even death.
Know the signs of dehydration. Call your doctor if your child has:
Diarrhea usually goes away in a few days, but it can lead to complications. If your child has any of these symptoms, don’t wait, get help. Call 911 if your child:
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