Let’s take a look at how parents can identify the symptoms, causes and the methods to deal and perhaps avoid or minimise the occurrences.
Guide to handling your infant’s diarrhoea & constipation conditions
| Constipation | Diarrhea |
| What is? | - Hard & dry bowel movements.
- Looks like pellets or small marbles.
| - Sudden onset of frequent bowel movements that is more watery than usual.
- Large runny or watery stools.
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| Causes | Babies: fluid either breastfed or formula fed.- Formula made up incorrectly.
Older infants: of new food to diet - Lack of fibre in food.
- Child not drinking enough fluid.
- After an illness, where child drinks and eats less.
| - Stomach infections:Virus, bacteria, parasite & rotavirus.Allergy: Food or milk.
- Side effects due to oral medication like antibiotics.
- Food poisoning.
- Infections of the gastrointestinal tract.
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| Remedies | <4 months old:- Give extra Breastfeeds or extra water for Bottle fed babies.
- >6 months old: Give strained food (cereal, peaches, pears, plums, beans or spinach).
Avoid squashed carrots, apple and bananas. - 1 year & above:
a) Give more fruits & vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals;
b) Limit milk produce;
c) Drink sufficient water;
d) Help baby pass stool by holding legs against chest;
e) Place your baby in warm water to relax rectal muscle;
f) If stress is due to Toilet Training – temporarily revert back to nappies/toilet training pants.
| Main Concern: Prevent Dehydration For babies:
see medical professional for check up and advice regarding treatment. - Continue breast feeding, offering more frequent feeds.
- Ensure sufficient water when feeding formula.
Older Babies: - Give food if baby interested as well as oral hydration fluid as directed.
- Try rice cereal or potatoes.
- Avoid fruit juices.
Use water when cleaning baby’s bottom and reduce the use of baby wipes to prevent rashes. |
| Seek Medical Attention when | - There are no bowel movements for several days.
- Hard and painful bowel movements.
- Presence of blood.
- Tears at rectal areas that are not healing.
- If your child is under 12 months and constipated.
- If constipation is accompanied by fever, vomiting, blood in stool, weight loss.
| - Shows dehydration symptoms (Not waking for feeds and is drowsy or lethargic, has a dry mouth, sunken soft spot, crying without tears, or doesn’t produce urine as usual, cold hands and feet.
- If your child is vomiting?
- It is always good to see a doctor, especially if under 3 months.
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