|  | Family Health | Babies Health

Causes of Diarrhea in a 6 Month Old Baby

Caring for a sick baby with diarrhea presents both emotional and physical difficulties for parents and other providers. Parents might feel helpless and inept at being unable to soothe the infant, while also trying not to spread the illness to others during diaper changes and bathing. Fortunately, not all causes of diarrhea in babies are contagious, and many are preventable through careful monitoring of the types and quantities of solid foods offered to them.

  1. Infections

    • Viral infections commonly cause diarrhea in babies, especially babies who attend daycare centers. According to the Mayo Clinic, rotavirus is the most common cause of acute diarrhea in babies and children. Other viruses that might cause diarrhea in a 6-month-old baby include Norwalk virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, viral hepatitis, adenovirus, calicivirus, astrovirus, and influenza. In addition to viruses, bacteria and parasites can infect babies and cause diarrhea. Artificial baby milk or concentrated juice prepared with contaminated water can introduce parasites such as Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium to the infant's digestive system, resulting in diarrhea. Babies fed improperly prepared or stored solid foods might become infected with bacteria that cause diarrhea. Bacterial causes of diarrhea in infants might include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella and Escherichia coli.

    Food Sensitivities

    • Babies fed excessive amounts of fruits or fruit juices might develop diarrhea due to a sensitivity to fructose, the natural sugar found in most fruits. Similarly, some babies experience lactose intolerance; lactose is the sugar found in milk and milk products, including artificial baby milk. According to the Mayo Clinic, babies fed foods containing artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol and manitol might experience diarrhea, although these sweeteners are not commonly added to typical jarred or boxed baby foods. Actual food allergies might result in diarrhea in 6-month-old babies. Diarrhea caused by food allergies might also be accompanied by blood in the stool, difficulty breathing, rash, swelling and hives; these symptoms require urgent medical care. Common food allergies in babies include soy, nuts, shellfish, cow's milk and eggs. According to Dr. Sears.com, milk protein allergy is the most common food allergy among babies, which is different from intolerance to lactose. Breastfed babies do not develop milk protein allergies.

    Medical Disorders

    • Ear infections might cause diarrhea in some babies; if a baby pulls on his ear, fusses more than usual, eats poorly and recently suffered a cold, an ear infection could be to blame. Babies with diarrhea unrelated to infections or food sensitivities might have a digestive disorder such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease. Medications such as antibiotics given to treat certain bacterial infections might also result in diarrhea in babies. Other possible causes of diarrhea in 6-month-old babies include poisoning as a result of ingesting chemicals, medications or plants. According to Dr. Sears, sometimes there is not an obvious cause to diarrhea in babies and it is just a part of normal intestinal variations. In this case, the baby might be going through a phase of loose stools that has no medical consequence.

Babies Health - Related Articles