Normally, when you eat and drink, fluids get absorbed into your bloodstream as the food passes through your gut (the part of your body that digests food and gets rid of waste). With diarrhea, the lining of your gut becomes

 

 

 

 

 

inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.

 

 

 

 

 

inflamed or irritated. The food passes through too quickly and the fluids can't be absorbed. This leads to loose, watery stools, passed more frequently than usual, (usually more than three times a day). A child with diarrhea may also get other symptoms such as tummy pain and vomiting.

Diarrhea is usually caused by a

 

 

 

 

 

viruses
Viruses are microbes (tiny organisms) that need the cells of humans or other animals to exist. They use the machinery of cells to reproduce. Then they spread to other cells in the body.

 

 

 

 

 

virus, which is usually passed on through infected stools.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Elliott E, Dalby-Payne J.
Acute infectious diarrhea and dehydration in children.
Medical Journal of Australia. 2004; 181: 565-570.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ Your child can pick up a virus if they go to the bathroom, don't wash their hands and then put their hands in their mouth. A type of virus called rotavirus is the most common cause. Babies can catch the virus if the person making their formula or meals has not washed their hands properly.

Children can also get diarrhea from

 

 

 

 

 

bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.

 

 

 

 

 

bacteria in food, although this type of diarrhea is much less common. For example, the bacteria Salmonella and Campylobacter can lead to diarrhea. You can get infected with these by eating chicken or eggs that are not thoroughly cooked, or from unpasteurized milk. When you get diarrhea from one of these bacteria, it's often called food poisoning.

Tiny organisms called parasites can also cause diarrhea. Two of the most common ones are Giardia and Cryptosporidium. These are found in dirty water, most often in countries where the water is not treated thoroughly. So your child could get infected when you travel abroad. When you get an

 

 

 

 

 

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

 

 

 

 

 

infection like this abroad it's often called "traveler's diarrhea". However, illness due to infection with Giardia happens throughout the United States. It is usually due to drinking contaminated water from a well, stream or pond when camping in a rural area. If your child gets one of these infections they can pass it to other children, especially in day care centers.

Sometimes other things can cause diarrhea, such as

 

 

 

 

 

antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

 

 

 

 

 

antibiotics.

Most children get diarrhea at least once before the age of 5 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rotavirus disease: Questions and Answers.
April 2006. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/rotavirus/dis-faqs.htm (accessed on 25 September 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

² But you can still do a lot to prevent infections that cause diarrhea and to stop them spreading.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
World Health Organization.
The treatment of diarrhoea: a manual for physicians and other senior health workers (4th revision).
2005. Available at http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents (accessed on 25 September 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

³

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