Diarrhea is an unpleasant occurrence at any age. Diarrhea in infants can cause concern for caregivers, as infants are especially susceptible to becoming dehydrated if they lose a lot of fluids in a short amount of time. Show Diarrhea in babies occurs as frequent watery or loose stools. While babies often have looser stools than adults, if a caregiver notices that their infant is producing looser stool than usual, they might want to consider that the infant has diarrhea. Diarrhea will often resolve itself, but there are some things a person can do to make their child feel more comfortable when they are experiencing it. It is also essential to take steps to help prevent dehydration, since babies are among the groups at highest risk of becoming dehydrated. Things people can do at home to manage diarrhea in babies include:
It is important to note that a person should never give an infant over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications. A person should contact their pediatrician for guidance on home care for diarrhea or symptoms that indicate a doctor needs to examine the baby. Caregivers should always contact a doctor for infant diarrhea if their child is younger than 6 months old. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, caregivers should also talk with a doctor if they notice the following signs in their child:
People should seek emergency care (call 911) immediately for infant diarrhea if the child is weak or not moving (lethargic) or the caregiver thinks there may be a life threatening emergency. The most important thing to watch out for if a child has diarrhea is dehydration. This is when the body has lost too much fluid, a condition that can cause a number of complications. According to the National Childbirth Trust in the United Kingdom, infants are at a higher risk of developing dehydration if they are younger than 1 year old and even more so if they are younger than 6 months old. The organization also notes that infants have an increased risk of dehydration if they had a low birth weight. Warning signs that an infant is experiencing mild to moderate dehydration include:
Symptoms of severe dehydration in babies include:
A baby can develop diarrhea regardless of being breastfed, formula fed, or a mixture of both. Causes of diarrhea in babies include:
Breastfed babiesResearch has suggested that exclusively breastfed babies have diarrhea less frequently than even partially formula fed ones. One study of 150 infants, published in the Journal of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons, found that around 27% of breastfed babies experienced frequent bouts of diarrhea, compared with almost 72% of those who were formula fed. However, that is not to say breastfed babies will never develop diarrhea. There are many reasons a breastfed infant may experience diarrhea, including:
Formula fed babiesCertain factors can cause a formula-fed baby to experience diarrhea. These include:
A person should discuss formula options and any dietary changes with their pediatrician. Diarrhea is common in infants. Most of the time, it will resolve itself, and caregivers can treat it at home. However, there are some signs to watch out for that may require medical attention, such as symptoms of dehydration. People should pay attention to their infant’s bowel movements to make sure they know what is typical for their child and what is diarrhea. This way, caregivers can monitor their child for signs of dehydration and make sure that they receive appropriate care when necessary. Which nursing intervention would be the priority for a 4 week old infant with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?Option A: Infants with pyloric stenosis usually have some degree of dehydration; replacing fluids and electrolytes would be priority actions for this diagnosis.
Which would the nurse state is true about the sleep pattern of preschoolers?Which sleep pattern would the nurse recognize as normal in preschoolers? Daytime naps are very common among preschoolers. On average, a preschooler sleeps about 12 hours a night.
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