Reasons for physiological diarrhea in babies
Release time : 06/13/2025 09:30:02
Diarrhea, a common condition in infants and young children, is primarily associated with physiological diarrhea, which often occurs in babies under one year old. This is because the digestive system of young infants is not yet fully developed. A slight deviation in parents' feeding practices can easily lead to physiological diarrhea in these children.
Regular diarrhea in infants can lead to dehydration, red bottoms, and other discomfort. So, what is the reason for physiological diarrhea in babies? How can we determine if it's physiological or not? Physiological diarrhea in infants occurs mainly in exclusively breastfed babies, but some formula-fed babies may also experience it. This is because newborns have not yet fully developed their digestive systems and are sensitive and fragile. If they consume food that exceeds their tolerance, they will experience physiological diarrhea.
Physiological diarrhea is most common in infants under six months, during which time they primarily consume breast milk or formula. The incidence of physiological diarrhea in these babies is not related to them; rather, it is due to the nutritional content in the breast milk or formula being excessively rich, exceeding the baby's digestive and absorbing capabilities. Since infants' absorptive and digestive capacities are not fully developed, the nutrients that cannot be absorbed are excreted through feces, resulting in the occurrence of diarrhea.
In cases of physiological diarrhea in infants exclusively fed with formula milk, it may be due to the baby's inability to absorb nutrients from the brand's formula or allergies to certain components. Mothers can try switching to a different brand of formula to see if the baby's diarrhea improves. However, during the switch, care should be taken not to directly switch brands as babies are still young and sudden changes could cause discomfort in their gastrointestinal tract, exacerbating their diarrhea.
Physiological diarrhea is self-limiting and poses no harm to infants. However, for many parents, the mere sight of their baby suffering from diarrhea can send them into a state of panic, eager to promptly alleviate the condition. Some parents may even attempt to suppress the symptoms themselves by administering antidiarrheal medication.
For physiological diarrhea, how should it be managed? Can medications be used to stop diarrhea? 1. No medication is needed: Physiological diarrhea does not pose any adverse impact on a child's health, therefore there is no need for any antidiarrheal medication. Moreover, the intestinal function of infants is not yet fully developed, and their drug tolerance is very low. Taking medication can actually lead to pathological diarrhea, which is undesirable.
2. Introduction of Weaning Foods: Currently, it is recommended to exclusively breastfeed until the age of 6 months. However, for babies with severe physiological diarrhea, it is advisable to start introducing rice flour and other complementary foods after 4 months. Generally, the likelihood of diarrhea after introducing these complementary foods is much lower than when breastfeeding exclusively. Mothers should be cautious in selecting specialized infant formulas rather than adult food, as consuming adult foods can harm the baby's gastrointestinal tract and exacerbate diarrhea conditions.
3. No Need to Wean: Physiological diarrhea, also known as breastfeeding diarrhea, prompts some mothers to alleviate their baby's diarrhea by weaning. However, this practice is entirely unnecessary.
Parents can simply pay attention to their diet by consuming fewer high-protein or greasy foods, and the likelihood of their baby's diarrhea will significantly decrease.
How to distinguish between physiological diarrhea and vomiting, which is a common occurrence in infants during their growth period.
However, diarrhea can vary in severity among individuals. Pediatric diarrhea generally falls into two categories: physiological and pathological. The difference between these two is significant; however, the impact on infants is notably different. Physiological diarrhea typically does not cause discomfort to the baby, whereas pathological diarrhea often stems from bacterial infections. Without timely treatment, such conditions can lead to dehydration, abdominal pain, and other consequences.
1. Physiological Diarrhea: In physiological diarrhea, the amount of feces expelled is not excessive, and the stool appears like a paste. Although there are frequent evacuations, the baby's mental state is good, and there is no significant discomfort or fever.
The color of stools is usually yellow-green, and there may also be cases of colic. In physiological diaper rash, although the frequency of bowel movements is high, it does not affect the growth and development of the child, nor will the weight or height be affected.
2. Pathological diarrhea: The baby's pathological diarrhea is mostly caused by bacterial infection or eating discomfort.
If diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection, symptoms such as stomach pain and fever will usually occur. At this time, parents should take the baby to the hospital to test the stool, find out the type of bacteria, and treat it with symptomatic treatment.
Sometimes, babies can also cause diarrhea due to greedy mouth. For example, some high-sugar drinks can also cause gastrointestinal discomfort, which can cause diarrhea. Therefore, parents should try not to give their babies drinks to avoid harming their babies 'gastrointestinal function.
How to prevent diarrhea in your baby? Diarrhea can cause water shortages and electrolyte disorders in the body. In severe cases, dehydration, coma and other conditions can occur, which will cause great harm to the baby.
However, prevention is more important than treatment for many diseases, and diarrhea is no exception. Taking preventive measures for your baby can effectively prevent the occurrence of diarrhea in your baby and make your baby absorb it well and strengthen your body. So, what methods can you prevent the occurrence of diarrhea in your baby? 1. Reasonable diet: The baby is in the growth and development stage, and some parents often cook some big fish and meat for the baby to eat, for fear that the baby lacks nutrition. However, in fact, infants and young children have limited digestive capacity. Too heavy food will increase the burden on the stomach and make the baby Indigestion, causing diarrhea.
Therefore, in the selection of food, diversity is required. Increase the intake of easily digestible foods such as whole grain porridge and poultry eggs, and consume more fruits and vegetables.
2. Strengthen Immunity: Babies who are physically weak tend to catch colds and other illnesses more easily, so parents can enhance their baby's immunity by encouraging regular exercise. This will significantly reduce the likelihood of diarrhea and other ailments. It is important to avoid keeping babies indoors all the time; instead, they should engage in outdoor activities frequently. Additionally, supplementing with lactoferrin fortified foods can further strengthen the baby's immune system.
How to care for a baby with diarrhea? In the summer, when the weather is hot and humid, various bacteria can easily thrive, which makes it easy for babies to develop diseases such as diarrhea during this season.
For infants and young children, diarrhea can cause irritation in the baby's bottom, leading to restlessness.
Therefore, if the baby has diarrhea, meticulous care can allow the baby to recover quickly and reduce discomfort such as red bottoms.
1. Replenish fluids: Dehydration can occur due to diarrhea, so it is important to promptly replenish fluids.
If the baby is exclusively breastfed, they can replenish fluids by frequent breastfeeding. Additionally, it is important to provide the baby with some warm water to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
2. Maintaining Dryness in the Butt: Frequent diarrhea can irritate the baby's buttocks, leading to the development of red butts.
Therefore, parents should promptly change diaper for their baby after defecation. Additionally, they should clean the bottom with warm water to remove any irritants and then apply a protective ointment to relieve any discomfort.
3. Adjust intestinal flora: For babies who often have diarrhea, parents can appropriately let their babies eat some probiotics. Probiotics can keep the baby's intestinal flora balanced and reduce the incidence of diarrhea.
4. Frequent disinfection: Disinfect bottles that your baby uses every day and toys that you often play with should be diligent to reduce the growth of bacteria.
Usually, your baby's toys can be disinfected by boiling water.
* The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.