Diarrhoea is responsible for the death of 1.5 million children all over the world every year, making it the second leading cause of death in children under the age of five. It causes the body to lose a lot of water and salts, which are important for body functions. Diarrhoea deaths usually happen due to complications from severe dehydration and fluid loss.
If there is a significant increase in the fluidity, frequency and volume of your baby’s bowel movements, it could be an indication of diarrhoea in your baby. Breastfed babies often have more frequent bowel movements while some may be affected by a change in the diet. However, very loose and watery stools are usually a clear indication of diarrhoea in your baby and you should consult your doctor immediately to further clarify.
Diarrhoea Danger for Infants
In babies, stomach cramps or pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, sluggishness and less activity than usual as well as less interest in feeding usually comes together with diarrhoea. Because water and salts are lost in great amount during diarrhoea, this often leads to dehydration. Serious health problems may arise should infants suffer from severe dehydration, which may even lead to death if not managed properly. Find out more about the article “Loss of Water” in this issue which is on dehydration.
Rotavirus – the Common Cause
When infants are infected with rotavirus, they will get sudden fever and vomiting followed by watery diarrhoea. Rotavirus is a wheel-like virus, which can cause gastroenteritis – the most common cause of diarrhoea in children less than five years of age.
Rotavirus is very contagious and easily transmitted from personto- person contact via faecal oral route. It also transmits through faecal contact on surfaces, thus contaminating hands, furniture and objects like toys. The incubation period for the virus is very short – 1 to 3 days – and children often start shedding the virus before they even show symptoms. However, the point to note is that rotavirus can survive less than a week in air, for days to weeks on surfaces, and for weeks in recreational or drinking water. Furthermore, it is not easily killed by regular soaps and may be thus hard to be contained.
There are also other types of viruses and bacteria that can cause diarrhoea in children. Here are some of the more common ones:
| Virus/Bacteria | Method of Transmission | Survival Rate |
| Escherichia coli | Consumption of contaminated foods – raw milk, raw or undercooked meat; Person to person contact through the oral-faecal route. | Incubation period is 3-8 days, can survive for months in certain water-logged areas. |
| Vibrio cholerae | Via the oral-faecal route, occurring with poor hygiene through contaminated water/food supplies. | Incubation period can be from two hours to five days and are present in faeces 7-14 days after infection. |
| Shigella | Direct person contact, consumption of contaminated food/water. | Incubation period of 1-4 days. |
Prevent Diarrhoea Before It Occurs
As parents, there are ways in which you can help prevent your baby from getting diarrhoea.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for baby’s first six months
- Breast milk is the most hygienic source of nutrition for baby, which eliminates the risk of baby consuming contaminated foods that may lead to diarrhoea. Breast milk is also the best source of liquid and food if he already suffers from diarrhoea, preventing dehydration and malnutrition.
- Breast milk also contains antimicrobial factors, helping to boost your baby’s immune system thus leading to fast recovery during illness.
- Practice good hygiene
- In most cases, the transmission of diarrhoea-causing viruses or bacteria can be reduced through good and proper hygiene. Always wash your hands and all feeding equipment. The equipment should be sterilised with hot water before use.
- Wash your hands frequently especially after using the restroom and every time you change your baby’s diaper. Ensure that baby’s environment is kept clean and dirtfree, including bed sheets and toys, as babies are prone to put things into their mouths.
- Thoroughly clean and disinfect all possible contaminated objects. Discard them if there is a need to do so, especially for bed mattresses that may be infected from the faeces.
- Improved complementary feeding practises
- Complementary food is usually given in addition to breast milk when your baby is six months old onwards. This is an important transition and involves proper handling of the foods to ensure contamination does not occur. Always ensure that the food and milk is fresh, thoroughly cooked and has not been kept at room temperature for more than an hour.
- Immunisation protection
- In Malaysia, vaccination for rotavirus is available as an optional vaccine for babies less than six months old. The vaccine is taken orally, in either two or three doses, and helps deal with the infection with minor consequences should your baby be exposed to the virus. Do consult your child’s paediatrician to know more about this optional vaccine.
Diarrhoea is a disease that is easily preventable. All it takes is a little bit of effort from your side, in providing and maintaining good hygiene as well as ensuring that your child is protected through other methods such as exclusive breastfeeding and vaccination.
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