Patient's question:
My youngest child is now 14 months old. Since he was one month old, he has been experiencing diarrhea, but his appetite is normal. Previously, he was mainly on solid foods, but now his diet has been changed to formula and eggs. Currently, he is malnourished and severely calcium-deficient. Could you please advise on how to treat this and how to adjust his diet?Doctor's answer:
The baby has frequent diarrhea. First, check if it is related to diet. For children under six months, it is essential to breastfeed on a fixed schedule and in fixed amounts, and pay attention to keeping warm to prevent colds. If the child is over six months old, supplementary foods should be gradually introduced. At this stage, introducing supplementary foods should be done gradually, starting with fine textures and gradually increasing in quantity and variety. If supplementary foods are introduced too frequently or too quickly, it can also lead to indigestion and cause diarrhea in the baby. The third common cause is viral infection, such as viral diarrhea, where patients often have a history of colds or upper respiratory infections, which can also lead to frequent diarrhea in the baby. Treatment should be based on the above conditions, develop good eating habits, and adjust the diet.