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Diarrhea used to be one of the leading causes of death in North America, back merely one hundred years ago. When an infant experiences the unpleasantness of diarrhea, it can be quite a stressful time for parents. Treating diarrhea is much more simple now than it used to be, and as long as it is treated swiftly and accurately, then there need not be any worry or panic.

Prior to beginning treatment for diarrhea in your infant, you must first determine whether or not it is in fact diarrhea, or if it is just a typical bowel movement from your child. Many infants have a runny bowel movement on a regular basis, and therefore diarrhea can be harder to detect. The key to diarrhea is that it occurs on a more frequent basis than does a regular bowel movement.

When in fact you have diagnosed that your infant is suffering from Montezuma's Revenge, as it is known colloquially, there are steps that you need to take to ensure your child's health and safety. Diarrhea can wreak havoc on the tiny insides of your child, causing great distress, bloating, distending of the stomach and a very sore, beet red bottom. Even before a diagnosis is determined, get your infant into the bathtub, as this will relieve the burning feeling they are experiencing. The comfort of your infant is of the utmost importance.

The major problem with diarrhea is that it starts to dehydrate your infant, and they may not show any signs whatsoever of the dehydration until it is too late. Basically, your infant needs to replenish all lost fluids that have vacated through their sore little bottom. A great way to have your child remain hydrated is to give them a drink called Pedialyte. This beverage helps to rehydrate lost fluid and electrolytes that your child has lost during their bout of diarrhea. Any liquid consumed is a bonus, so even popsicles or ice are great. As long as your child is not dehydrating, you are in control of the battle.

Pedialyte, or any drink that is similar, is harmless to infants and can quickly replenish all lost fluids safely. Another thing to keep an eye on is the duration of the diarrhea, which typically will last from two to three days. Anything longer than that should be advised upon by a Paediatrician. Your Paediatrician may also suggest lactose free milk products, as the diarrhea could be caused by milk, aggravating the gastro-intestinal process of your child.

Therefore, a quick diagnosis of the diarrhea, followed by a quick trip to the pharmacy for some Pedialyte will help your child to combat their diarrhea and return to proper health in a short amount of time. Checking to see if your child is dehydrated can be done simply using any number of techniques.

A quick and easy way is to squeeze the top of the hand and see if the skin recoils quickly back to its proper shape. If it does not quickly return to its natural form, dehydration may well have already set in.

Another way is to squeeze the nail of one of the fingers and watch to see how quickly the color returns to the nail. Once again, the normal color should return to the nail very quickly. If the nail stays white for too long, dehydration is setting in and you need to take your infant to the Hospital or at least to your doctor.
Treating diarrhea in infants is a nerve wracking ordeal, but one that is necessary. You never want your infant to be uncomfortable or on the verge of dehydration. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so it is always better to err on the side of caution than to be caught unsuspecting in a dilemma.

Learn more about this author, Bobby Coles.
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