Diarrhea in a newborn: what to do?

Diarrhea in a newborn is exactly the problem most new parents face. It is in the first months of life that a child is prone to a variety of diseases.

So what should I do? Whether it is necessary to address to the doctor? These are the questions that mothers have. To begin with, it is worth noting that diarrhea in a newborn can and should be treated. The fact that diarrhea is dangerous, because at such a young age can lead to dehydration.

First you need to find out whether this is diarrhea. After all, everyone knows that the stool of a baby can be liquid, frequent or irregular. You can begin to worry if your child has a permanent stool with impurities of mucus greenish and an acidic odor. Sometimes you can find bloody streaks in the stool.

Diarrhea in a newborn baby: what's the reason? The most common of these is the disruption of the digestive apparatus in connection with the use of unsuitable products. If the baby is breastfed, diarrhea can be the result of maternal nutrition. In this case, it is only necessary to find out which product is not perceived by the body of the child and to exclude it from the diet.

Sometimes diarrhea in children occurs as a result of feeding some artificial mixtures. In the older age, the child's organism can respond in this way to the introduction of complementary foods.

Quite often, diarrhea in a baby can be the result of an intestinal infection, both viral and bacterial.

Another common cause is dysbiosis, which is characterized by a violation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora. Most often, the intestinal dysbiosis is caused by medication, especially antibiotics.

Much less often the infant suffers from diarrhea caused by some anatomical abnormalities. The cause of diarrhea can be appendicitis - in this case the disease is accompanied by fever, vomiting and a strong pain syndrome. Such a child requires immediate hospitalization.

In any case, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician. Only a doctor can correctly determine the cause of diarrhea and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Diarrhea in a newborn: treatment options

As already mentioned, if the loose stool becomes permanent, the child becomes restless or has more severe symptoms, for example, vomiting, a rash, fever, blood and mucus in the stool, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Only a specialist can correctly determine the cause of the disease, on which the chosen method of treatment depends.

For example, if diarrhea in a newborn is a symptom of a dysbacteriosis, the baby is prescribed a drug containing live strains of lacto- and bifidobacteria.

If this is the reaction of the body to eating, then it is necessary to exclude from the diet of the baby or lactating mother products that cause this condition. As a rule, after this, the stool is normalized.

In the presence of infection, specific treatment is sometimes required. The choice of therapy in general depends on the doctor. In the most severe cases, you need hospitalization and taking antibiotics.

But for the infant in the period of illness, proper care is necessary. First, the development of dehydration should be prevented, since in infancy it is fraught with very dangerous consequences. You can give the baby a little weak broth from chamomile - he strengthens the stool.

Another home remedy for diarrhea is a pomegranate. Take a teaspoon of dry skin of this fruit, pour a glass of water, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. After the broth cools down, it can be sweetened and given to the child. Let the newborn take one spoonful of medication an hour before meals.