How to Identify Symptoms of Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic bouts of diarrhea in children are often labeled as "nonspecific chronic diarrhea," which merely means that no physical cause such as infection or food intolerance has been determined. Some children suffer from chronic diarrhea, and while sometimes the condition is related in some way to diet and nutrition, some children just drink too much fluid such as apple juice, orange juice or fruit punch on a daily basis.Remember that water is a vital nutrient and adequate amounts of water will help to prevent a multitude of conditions.Chronic bouts of diarrhea are most commonly found in children between the ages of 1 1/2 to about 4 years old. This type of diarrhea is different than that caused by irritable bowel syndrome experienced by many adults. In the case of nonspecific childhood chronic diarrhea, the condition gradually disappears before the child enters school.Learning how to identify symptoms of childhood nonspecific chronic diarrhea will help parents understand the process as well as give them the ability to help support and nurture the child, who may be anxious about his condition. Medications for the condition are generally not necessary, but extra love, understanding and support will go a long way toward dealing with the condition.

Instructions

• 1

  Pay attention to loose or watery stools when your child either evacuates into her diaper or in the toilet. Changes in milk, formula, juices or soft foods often produce this result. If the condition persists, it is a classic sign of chronic diarrhea. However, be advised that normal stools may be interspersed with watery stools off and on for a period of time, which makes the condition difficult to diagnose.

• 2

  Observe your child for frequent evacuation. Small children may evacuate once or twice a day, but those suffering from nonspecific chronic diarrhea will often produce stools three or four times a day.

• 3

  Pay attention to crying or signs of distress in small children, who may also complain of stomach pain if he is old enough to speak. This is another classic sign of stomach or intestinal distress and should be assessed by a family care provider or pediatrician.

• 4

  Examine the anal area of your child. If it appears red or irritated, this may be caused by excessive amounts of watery stools and diarrhea. Treat the irritated area with ointments or creams suggested by your pediatrician.

• 5

  Discuss treatment options with your pediatrician. She may suggest changing formulas, or reducing the amount of apple or orange juice you feed your child, as well as the amount of fruit juices or drinks popular today.