Chronic diarrhea of infancy

Chronic diarrhea of infancy, also called toddler's diarrhea, is a common condition typically affecting children between ages 6–30 months, usually resolving by age 4.[1] Symptoms include multiple loose bowel movements per day, sometimes with undigested food visible; normal growth with no evidence of malnutrition; and no evidence blood in the stool or infection. The condition may be related to irritable bowel syndrome.[1]

Differential diagnoses

Before a diagnosis of toddler's diarrhea is made, the following conditions should be ruled out:[2]

Treatment

Treatment is primarily through diet. Dietary fiber and fat can be increased and fluid intake, especially fruit juice intake, decreased. With these considerations, the patient should consume a normal balanced diet to avoid malnutrition or growth restriction.[1] Medications such as loperamide should not be used.[1][2] Studies have shown that certain probiotic preparations such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus (a bacterium) and Saccharomyces boulardii (a yeast) may be effective at reducing symptoms.[3][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Joel Schwab, M.D. "Toddler's Diarrhea (online course materials)". Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  2. 1 2 Diarrhea in Children at Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Professional Edition
  3. ↑ Guarino, A.; et al. (2009). "Probiotics as prevention and treatment for diarrhea.". Current Opinion in Gastroenterology 25 (1): 18–23. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32831b4455. PMID 19114770.
  4. ↑ Roggero, P.; et al. (1990). "Crystalline lactulose and oral preparations of micro-organisms for the treatment of chronic aspecific diarrhea in children. A controlled clinical study". Minerva Pediatrica 42 (4): 147–150. PMID 2115970.


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