What is the cause of a child's diarrhea being watery?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on May 03, 2025
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Diarrhea is characterized by an increase in the frequency of a child's bowel movements and a change in the nature of the stool. When children have diarrhea, their stool can be watery, often caused by rotavirus infection resulting in seasonal diarrhea. The stool may resemble egg drop soup and can even be sprayed out. In such cases, it is recommended to administer montmorillonite powder and probiotics to the child, as well as to supplement with oral rehydration salts. For children with moderate to severe dehydration, intravenous rehydration is necessary to correct dehydration. Another scenario involves diarrhea caused by invasive bacterial infections in children, where the stool is also watery. Symptomatic treatment and correction of dehydration are required in such cases. If systemic bacterial infection symptoms are present, antibiotics should be administered under the guidance of a hospital doctor. This is mainly because the bacterial or viral invasion affects the intestinal mucosa, causing changes in osmotic pressure within the intestinal cavity, leading to the occurrence of watery stools. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Can children with diarrhea eat eggs?

Diarrhea in children is itself a manifestation of gastroenteritis. During this process, the baby's digestive function will definitely be affected, so the diet must be light and consist of easily digestible foods, such as milk, rice porridge, and noodles. Babies who are breastfed can continue to be breastfed, but spicy, irritating, greasy, and difficult-to-digest foods should be avoided as much as possible. Eggs are high in protein and phospholipids and are not suitable for children during diarrhea because they can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and hinder the recovery from the diarrhea condition. Therefore, eggs should not be eaten directly during diarrhea.

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Can children with diarrhea eat potatoes?

Pediatric diarrhea is caused by various factors leading to gastrointestinal dysfunction, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients, characterized by increased frequency and changed nature of stools. Potatoes contain a rich amount of starch and a large amount of dietary fiber. A large amount of dietary fiber can enhance gastrointestinal motility and has a laxative effect; therefore, it is advisable for children with diarrhea to eat fewer potatoes or avoid them altogether.

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Clinical manifestations of childhood diarrhea

Pediatric diarrhea is caused by a variety of pathogens and factors, characterized by an increase in the frequency of bowel movements and changes in the characteristics of stools. It is one of the most common diseases in infants and young children in China, with a high incidence in infants and young children from six months to two years old, half of which are under one year old. It is one of the main causes of malnutrition and growth and development disorders in children. Diarrhea has some common manifestations, including loss of appetite, occasional regurgitation or vomiting, increased frequency of bowel movements, watery or thin stools that are yellow or yellow-green, some with a sour smell. In severe cases of diarrhea, it is important to check for dehydration and electrolyte disorders, as well as symptoms of systemic infection and intoxication, such as fever, irritability or lethargy, drowsiness, pale complexion, and even coma and shock.

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Is it normal for a child with diarrhea to just sleep?

Infant diarrhea accompanied by excessive sleep is often abnormal. Generally speaking, diarrhea can lead to dehydration or electrolyte imbalance. In this case, the primary focus should be on rehydration to maintain electrolyte balance, adjusting the gut flora, and using some antidiarrheal medications for additional treatment.If the baby is only sleeping, it often indicates dehydration or symptoms of electrolyte imbalance. Under these circumstances, it is crucial to go to a hospital to check for any imbalance in electrolytes, acidosis, etc., and provide timely symptomatic treatment.

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Can children with diarrhea eat eggs?

Diarrhea in children indicates that their gastrointestinal function is significantly weak, and their ability to absorb nutrients such as starch, fat, and protein is notably poor. Therefore, during a child's diarrhea period, it is recommended to provide some light, easily digestible food, and to avoid spicy, cold, or greasy foods, as well as high-protein and high-starch foods. While some eggs can be appropriate for children with diarrhea, the quantity should not be excessive. Additionally, some children may experience diarrhea due to allergies to certain proteins, in which case it is advised not to consume eggs.