Chronic Diarrhea in Newborns

In general, diarrhea is defined as loose, runny stools that occur more than three times a day. Chronic, or persistent, diarrhea is when these loose stools last more than two weeks. The question is, however, how are you supposed to tell if your infant has diarrhea? Newborns have, on average, eight to ten dirty diapers in one day, all of which texturally fit the definition of diarrhea. This number is by no means concrete, since it can be affected by multiple factors. For instance, many breastfed babies have only a couple of dirty diapers a day (and some may have only a dirty diaper every two or three days). So, how do you tell what is normal and when you should be concerned?

First and foremost, consider what is normal for your infant. If you know your infant only has four dirty diapers each day, and suddenly there is an increase in this frequency, your infant may be experiencing diarrhea. Even then, it's probable that your infant has acute diarrhea rather than chronic, meaning that it will subside in a couple of days. If, however, it does not and it is determined that your infant has chronic diarrhea, there are many possible causes.

Toddler's Diarrhea: Seemingly a common type of chronic diarrhea, this is usually caused by drinking too much juice. Juices like apple and pear contain a high content of sorbital and fructose, causing loose, watery stools without other symptoms. Limit juices in your baby and, if he or she is older, add fiber to the diet.

Lactose Intolerance: Infants with this type of diarrhea can't handle lactose in their diet, meaning they can't break down the proteins found in cow's milk. In this case, you will need to change your infant's formula to one that is soy-based instead of milk-based.

Crohn's Disease: Aside from diarrhea, this may show itself through bleeding, abdominal cramping, intestinal obstruction and weight loss.

Malabsorption: This is typically caused by more serious conditions like cystic fibrosis and celiac disease. Children with malabsorption can't absorb minerals and nutrients through their intestines and may have distention of the abdomen, abnormally large and greasy stools and poor weight gain.

Since infants can dehydrate very quickly, it is crucial that you replace liquids by breastfeeding, offering formula and giving special electrolyte replacement drinks. It is also very important that you watch for signs that your baby isn't getting enough fluids. Common signs of dehydration include: frequent crying or irritability, listlessness, sunken eyes, dry mouth and tongue and skin that doesn't flatten when you push on it. You should also call your pediatrician if your infant has had no wet diapers for more than three hours or has no tears when he or she cries.

Sources:

"Diarrhea," KeepKidsHealthy.com.

"Diarrhea in Infants," HealthCentral.com.