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Toddler Diarrhoea

This photo is licensed under cc by sa 2.0 by Thingo

If your little one has a lot of loose, watery bowel actions, it means she is suffering from diarrhoea (or 'diarrhea' for my buddies over in the U.S).

Diarrhoea is actually common in toddlers, but if it lasts for more than one day, it is necessary to consult your doctor.

Most cases of diarrhoea in toddlers are from a gastrointestinal infection. It is for this reason that she will need to see a doctor if the diarrhoea persists - especially if she is also vomiting, or there is blood present in her poo.

Diarrhoea could be serious if it goes on for too long because it causes loss of fluid, which can lead to dehydration.

Think about how many times a day you give your toddler fruit juice as a drink. Do you dilute the juice? If you don't dilute the juice, and you give her fruit juice every time she is thirsty, it just may be the cause of her diarrhoea.

When Juice is Not So Sweet...

Toddlers who drink lots of pear juice and apple juice can easily develop diarrhoea.

A condition known as 'toddler diarrhoea' involving episodes of irregular and short periods of diarrhoea, is common in toddlers under two, especially boys.

The poo looks a bit like pureed vegie soup, and is more smelly than usual. You will often find pieces of undigested food in the poo (in the form of bits of corn and carrots for example), which have come from a recent meal.

The poo may appear up to ten times a day - while you long for the day those frequent (and not so pleasant) nappy changes will end!

If your toddler is suffering from toddler diarrhoea, she probably goes about her usual activities, full of energy and appearing otherwise well.

Since the cause of toddler diarrhoea is not due to an infection (or gastroenteritis), your toddler is usually not bothered about the diarrhoea in the slightest.

Toddler diarrhoea is caused by her own normal metabolism, so there is usually no cause for concern. However keep in mind that you will need to see a doctor at once if the diarrhoea seems to be getting worse, lasts for more than 24 hours, or is accompanied by vomiting.

The actual cause of toddler diarrhoea is not fully understood, but it is thought that it may be related to a number of factors, including drinking continually (especially fruit juice as mentioned above), or not chewing food thoroughly.

Here are some of the possible causes of diarrhoea in toddlers: -

Have a look at the articles below to find out how you can treat toddler diarrhoea.

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