Causes of Infant Diarrhea
Each year, there are over 1 billion cases of
diarrhea in infants and children (
see Diarrhea in Children). Fortunately, most of these cases improve on their own. But infant diarrhea can be very serious or even deadly in some situations (that is why replacing fluids and electrolytes is so important).
There are many possible causes of diarrhea in infants. These include such things as infections (with bacteria, a virus, or parasite), certain medical conditions,
food intolerance (such as
lactose intolerance), or
food allergy (such as a milk protein allergy).
(Click Diarrhea Causes for more information about possible causes of diarrhea.)
One common cause of diarrhea in infants is the
stomach flu (known medically as viral gastroenteritis). Many different viruses can cause stomach flu in infants. The most common types include:
Infection with the rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea in infants. In the United States, rotavirus is responsible for approximately 5 to 10 percent of all cases of diarrhea among children under five years of age. However, because rotavirus causes more severe diarrhea than other bugs, it accounts for a greater proportion of severe diarrhea cases (for example, 40 to 50 percent of diarrhea hospitalizations).
Rotavirus accounts for more than 500,000 physician visits and approximately 55,000 to 70,000 hospitalizations each year among children under five years of age. An estimated 1 in 200,000 children with rotavirus diarrhea die from the complications of the infection.
Are There Foods That Cause Diarrhea in Infants?
There are several foods that can cause diarrhea in infants:
- Milk and dairy products (except yogurt) -- milk protein allergy is one of the more common food allergies seen in young infants. These products can also cause diarrhea in infants suffering from lactose intolerance.
- Apple juice, pear juice, and cherry juice -- these juices contain sorbitol, which is a complex sugar that can be hard for infants to digest. White grape juice is a good alternative.
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