Patient's question:
My daughter is one year old and has had poor gastrointestinal health. She didn't have a bowel movement once a day until she was eight months old; previously, she had multiple bowel movements daily. Just after her first birthday and two weeks after weaning, she developed autumnal diarrhea. Initially, she experienced vomiting and diarrhea, but later stopped vomiting and had severe diarrhea. We didn’t give her an IV drip but used oral rehydration solutions. After a week, her bowel movements returned to normal. A week later, she started vomiting again followed by diarrhea, with four to five episodes a day. We’ve given her Smecta, but I’m not sure if drinking too much has caused any side effects. In the past two days, she’s had one bowel movement a day, but it’s still not normal—it’s formed like a thick paste. We’re not feeding her a normal diet yet; she drinks thin milk formula and eats a few pieces of cookies. After each feeding, she always burps, and we’re always worried she might start vomiting again.Doctor's answer:
Child has diarrhea, currently the season is more common with autumnal diarrhea, rotavirus enteritis. It may present with fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Stool can be watery and resemble egg drop soup, with more water than feces. Currently, the child has not urinated for a day, which is more likely due to dehydration from enteritis. It is necessary to seek medical attention promptly.You can visit the pediatric department of the hospital. Based on the dehydration status, reasonable intravenous fluid therapy should be administered to replenish electrolytes and correct dehydration. Additionally, it is important to have a stool test done promptly to confirm the diagnosis. Intravenous fluid therapy is not just for stopping diarrhea. If the child's condition improves and symptoms subside, probiotics and anti-diarrheal medications such as lactobacillus and smectite can be added. Drink plenty of water, keep the abdomen warm, and wish the baby a healthy growth!