Causes of diarrhea in infants under 6 months & bull; hello healthy

Diarrhea or loose stools is a common digestive disorder in babies. There are various causes of diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months that often make parents worry. To reduce anxiety, here are some causes of diarrhea in babies that parents need to understand.

Causes of diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months

Diarrhea makes the baby's bowel movements more frequent than usual with a runny stool texture.

Not only diarrhea, babies and children will also experience symptoms of diarrhea, such as nausea, vomiting, sometimes fever.

There are various causes of diarrhea, aka diarrhea with different children's conditions. In general, problems with bowel movements in young children tend to be influenced by their daily diet.

Here are some of the most common causes of diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months:

1. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites

Quoting from Seattle Children's, diarrhea in babies can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites in the environment.

In infants, rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea, so it is necessary to receive rotavirus immunization periodically to reduce the viral cause.

Meanwhile, diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months is caused by bacteria, the most common is salmonella. If the baby has diarrhea caused by salmonella bacteria, the sign is that there is blood in the little one's feces.

Meanwhile, diarrhea caused by a giardia type parasite usually occurs in day care centers where there are many people.

2. Lactose intolerance

Lactose is the sugar content in milk and not all children can accept it, resulting in lactose intolerance.

Signs of lactose intolerance include bloating, watery stools, and lots of gas. This happens because bacteria in the intestines convert lactose into gas.

Lactose intolerance is usually passed down through other family members, such as father, mother, or others.

3. Changed diet

The most common cause of diarrhea in infants is a change in diet as they grow and develop. Babies who have reached the age of 6 months are usually introduced to soft complementary foods with breast milk or formula milk.

Some examples of common complementary foods include crushed bananas, milk biscuits that are turned into porridge, or rice porridge.

A fairly drastic change in diet, from being only milk (liquid) to slightly solid food, can cause children to have diarrhea.

This generally indicates the unaccustomed reaction of the digestive system to the intake of new types of food.

4. Children's activities

According to Stanford Children's Health, the germs that cause diarrhea can enter a child's body in a number of ways. However, the infection pathway that causes diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months is generally through their daily activities, including:

Drinking water or eating contaminated food

Germs are very easy to infect the digestive tract of children through food or drink that has been contaminated.

Transfer of germs that cause diarrhea can occur in the production process, processing, even when served.

Eat raw food

The germs that cause diarrhea are often found in raw foods. Whether it's raw vegetables that are not washed properly, raw eggs, raw meat, or raw milk.

Raw or undercooked food should not be given to children, especially babies whose immune systems are not yet perfect. For babies aged 6 months who start solids, parents need to pay attention to the level of maturity of the food given.

Swimming

Germs that cause diarrhea can survive in water, such as swimming pools. If there are visitors who have diarrhea and then swim, children who swallow pool water while swimming are at great risk of contracting diarrhea after swimming.

The habit of putting your fingers in your mouth or biting your nails

Germs that cause diarrhea can stick to the surface of objects that are around, for example, toys.

When a child touches a toy and then inserts his finger or bites his nails without washing his hands, the germs can enter the body and infect.

5. Certain health problems

Apart from dietary choices and infections, certain medical problems can be a cause of diarrhea in babies as young as 6 months. Launching the Mayo Clinic page, there are several conditions and diseases that cause diarrhea in children and babies, including:

Celiac disease

Celiac disease is a disease that can cause chronic diarrhea in children.

Symptoms will appear after a baby or child eats foods containing gluten. Gluten is a naturally occurring protein in wheat, which is also found in pasta and bread.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a cause of chronic diarrhea in both infants and children. This condition occurs due to inflammation of the digestive system which is closely related to the immune system and heredity.

Other diseases

Apart from the diseases above, there are also rare diseases that can cause diarrhea in babies aged 0-6 months, such as:

• Zinc deficiency can cause diarrhea in children so sometimes mothers need zinc supplements.
• Cystic fibrosis is a cause of diarrhea due to a buildup of mucus that interferes with the absorption of food nutrients in the intestine.
• Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital condition that causes the loss of cells in the muscles in the intestines, causing symptoms of diarrhea.

Knowing the causes of diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months is very important for doctors and parents. The reason is, the treatment carried out will be adjusted to the cause of the diarrhea.

Treatment of diarrhea is generally adequate intake of fluids by drinking water and ORS, continuing to provide breast milk, improving diet, and food for children with diarrhea that is adjusted to their condition.

In some cases, doctors will give diarrhea drugs, for example antibiotics to kill germs that cause diarrhea in children and babies.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), contact your doctor immediately if a baby aged 0-6 months shows the following symptoms of diarrhea:

• Shows signs of dehydration
• Have diarrhea for more than 24 hours
• Fever more than 39 degrees Celsius
• Black stool
• There is blood or pus in the stool

Ask the doctor whether it is necessary to give electrolyte solutions because treating diarrhea must match the cause of diarrhea in infants aged 0-6 months. Administration of electrolyte solutions must be under the supervision of a doctor. Don't give drugs before seeing a doctor.

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