Diarrhea in a Two-Month Old Baby
It is important to understand the possible causes for diarrhea in two-month old babies, because they are too young to say how they feel. Although diarrhea is not always something to worry about, it can be a sign of a food allergy, and it can cause dehydration. There are a number of ways to treat diarrhea, but if you are very concerned you should consult the baby's doctor.
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Identification
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Diarrhea in two-month old babies can be hard to diagnose since all baby stool may have the appearance of diarrhea. According to Med TV, diarrhea typically appears oose, watery and unformed. Diarrhea also happens three or more times a day. If a baby's stool typically appears this way, watch for other symptoms. Since one of the causes of diarrhea is infection, there will be other symptoms present with the diarrhea. If the baby also appears sick, overly tired, refuses to eat, has a fever or runny nose along with the loose, watery, unformed stool, the baby likely has diarrhea.
Causes
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Diarrhea in two-month old babies can be caused by a number of different things. According to Dr. Greene, these causes include: change of diet, viral or bacterial infection, antibiotics and, in some cases, a rare disease. If the baby is being breast fed, then she may be reacting to something the mother ate. Med TV asserts that although two months old is early for a baby to start teething, it is not impossible, and teething can cause diarrhea.
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Remedies
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In the vast majority of cases, diarrhea in a two-month-old will clear up on its own in approximately a week. However, if it does not, or if the baby refuses to drink, it is important to see the baby's doctor. If the baby is being breast fed, continue breast feeding. According to Dr. Greene, breast milk has been shown to help prevent and stop diarrhea. If the baby is drinking formula, try a soy-based formula, which will slow down a baby's bowel movements. If the baby seems thirsty even after feeding, try giving the baby some oral rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte.
Dangers
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The greatest concern with diarrhea in babies is that it can lead to dehydration. Signs of dehydration include no wet diapers in more than three hours, lack of tears, and being overly tired. Approximately 400 to 500 babies in the United States die each year as a result of diarrhea.
Side Effects
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A common side effect of having diarrhea for two-month-old babies is developing a diaper rash. It is important to bath the baby each night, allow the baby's bottom to be exposed to air, and use cream or ointment to prevent and treat the diaper rash.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit infant, baby image by Natalja from Fotolia.com
