How many days will it take for a child's diarrhea to get better?

Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on March 31, 2025
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The duration of diarrhea depends on the child's condition, whether it is physiological or pathological diarrhea. For physiological diarrhea in children, which is mostly due to dietary reasons, adjusting the structure of the diet can usually bring improvement. However, physiological diarrhea is not easy to resolve and can sometimes persist for months. If it is pathological diarrhea, it is necessary to identify whether it is caused by bacteria, viruses, or other specific diseases. In such cases, the first step is to perform a stool test on the infant. This involves collecting the child's stool in a clean container and bringing it to the hospital for examination within an hour to determine the cause, which will then guide further targeted medication adjustments. The duration of the illness will depend on the type of pathogen infecting the child.

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Can children with diarrhea eat carrots?

Childhood diarrhea occurs due to disturbances in gastrointestinal function, leading to abnormal nutrient absorption and subsequently an increase in the frequency and changes in the nature of bowel movements. When children experience diarrhea, their diet should be adjusted to light, easily digestible liquid or semi-liquid food. It's also important to eat less food that is high in fiber, as rough fiber can promote intestinal peristalsis and may exacerbate the frequency of bowel movements. Carrots, being high in beta-carotene and plant fibers, also enhance gastrointestinal motility. Therefore, it is better for children with diarrhea to consume fewer carrots.

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What is the cause of diarrhea in children?

Childhood diarrhea is divided into infectious diarrhea and non-infectious diarrhea, with the common type in children being infectious diarrhea, which includes rotavirus enteritis, bacterial enteritis, and bacterial dysentery, among others, with rotavirus enteritis being the most common. It is characterized by watery diarrhea or "egg-flower" style diarrhea. It is also accompanied by dry mouth, reduced urine output, and some can have symptoms such as vomiting and fever. Similarly, bacterial diarrhea can also present with vomiting, fever, and other symptoms. Other types of diarrhea, such as allergic diarrhea, commonly occur from milk allergies, and there are cases of lactose intolerance that also result in diarrhea. Therefore, there are many causes of childhood diarrhea, and each case should be analyzed specifically.

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Can children with diarrhea drink yogurt?

Yogurt is made by fermenting pure milk and retains all the nutritional components of fresh milk. During the fermentation process, lactic acid bacteria can produce a variety of vitamins essential for human nutrition. Yogurt contains a large amount of lactic acid bacteria, which have the effect of resisting the production of harmful bacteria. Therefore, children with diarrhea can appropriately drink some yogurt. However, it is not recommended to drink it on an empty stomach. Additionally, if a baby has diarrhea, drinking chilled yogurt might aggravate their condition, so it is also not advised to consume large amounts of yogurt on an empty stomach.

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Can children with diarrhea eat grapes?

Pediatric diarrhea is a digestive syndrome characterized by an increased number of bowel movements and a change in the nature of stools, caused by multiple pathogens and factors. When a child has diarrhea, his gastrointestinal function is weak, and the absorption of nutrients is significantly reduced compared to normal. There is also significant intestinal dysfunction or clear intestinal infections causing the diarrhea. Grapes have a notable effect in promoting digestion; however, if a child with weak spleen and stomach functions consumes grapes, it could potentially worsen the situation by increasing the frequency of bowel movements. Therefore, it is advisable to minimize grape consumption in children with diarrhea.

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What can children eat when they have diarrhea?

Childhood diarrhea is a manifestation of acute gastroenteritis. During this process, his digestive function will definitely be affected, so it is important to pay attention to diet. Provide light and easy-to-digest foods. If breastfeeding, the mother's diet should also include light and easy-to-digest foods. For babies fed with formula, we can use diarrhea-specific formula, and supplementary foods such as rice porridge and noodles can be added. Avoid greasy, spicy, and irritating foods. It is appropriate to add vegetables, but do not orally administer sugary foods, including sugars, biscuits, etc., as these are not suitable for the baby.