What are the causes of diarrhea in children? The causes of diarrhea in children are a bit complicated

Pediatric diarrhea is a common disease in infants and young children under 2 years old. It is often caused by multiple causes and factors, but the main manifestation is the change in the frequency and nature of stool, and symptoms of fever, vomiting and abdominal pain may also occur.

What are the causes of diarrhea in children?

1. Infection factors

1. Intestinal infection

Intestinal infection is mainly due to the destruction of normal intestinal flora or the patient's low resistance, which causes diarrhea. The most common is viral infection. Intestinal infection can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Viruses and bacteria are the most common. Viruses are the most common pathogenic factors.

2. Viral infection

Viral infections mainly occur in autumn and winter, so there is a type of pediatric diarrhea called autumn diarrhea, also known as rotavirus-induced diarrhea. Generally, 80% of pediatric diarrhea is caused by viruses, the most common virus being rotavirus (rotavirus-induced diarrhea can be prevented by oral rotavirus vaccine), followed by norovirus, astrovirus, coxsackievirus, echovirus, coronavirus, etc.

3. Bacterial infection

Bacterial infections are usually caused by an imbalance or disorder of intestinal bacteria, which leads to an imbalance of flora. The most common pathogenic bacteria is Escherichia coli, which includes pathogenic Escherichia coli, toxigenic Escherichia coli, invasive Escherichia coli, hemorrhagic Escherichia coli and adherent Escherichia coli. In general, pathogenic Escherichia coli are the cause, and it should be noted that penicillin has no effect on Escherichia coli.

3. Fungal infection

Fungi can also cause diarrhea, such as Candida, Aspergillus, Mucor, etc., but the most common one is Candida albicans. Parasites can also cause diarrhea in children. Generally, children have parasites in their bodies, such as Giardia lamblia, Amoeba, and Cryptosporidium.

4. Extraintestinal infection

Extraintestinal infection is usually caused by digestive disorders, which we sometimes call indigestion. It also causes diarrhea, which we also call symptomatic diarrhea. It is usually more common in young children. The symptoms of this type of diarrhea are not very serious, but only a change in the characteristics of the stool. Generally, there will be no bloody or purulent stools. Sometimes this situation will heal itself.

5. Antibiotics

The use of antibiotics in children can also cause diarrhea. Antibiotics will cause an imbalance in the intestinal flora. On the one hand, harmful intestinal bacteria, such as drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, will multiply in large numbers. On the other hand, beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium will decrease. The imbalance of the microecology leads to diarrhea. The nature of the stool is related to the site of bacterial invasion, and the condition can be mild or severe.

2. Non-infectious factors

1. Improper dietary care

It often occurs in children who are being fed. Overfeeding can cause a burden on the stomach and intestines, leading to diarrhea. Eating too much fat in food and suddenly changing the food variety after weaning can cause mild and moderate diarrhea (also known as indigestion). Sudden changes in climate and cold abdomen increase intestinal motility; overheated weather reduces the secretion of digestive juices; thirst and excessive breastfeeding increase the burden on the digestive tract, all of which can easily induce diarrhea. The stool is thin or egg drop soup-like, without pus, blood, or sour smell. If not controlled in time, it is easy to cause intestinal infection.

2. Allergic diarrhea

Some children may have diarrhea if they consume too much protein food, such as diarrhea caused by allergy to milk or soy products. Diarrhea may also be caused by lack of primary or secondary disaccharidase (mainly lactase) or decreased activity, and poor intestinal absorption of sugar.

3. Climate factors

Sudden changes in climate and cold abdomen increase intestinal motility; hot weather reduces the secretion of digestive juices or drinking too much milk due to thirst can induce digestive dysfunction and lead to diarrhea.