11 Month Old Has Had Diarrhea for Almost a Month

G.,
I know my response is late, but wanted to mention possible allergies. My 2 children experienced similar situations and I was told at first it was a virus. I found out my daughter to alergic to milk, soy, nuts, eggs and wheat and my son has some similar allergies. May be the case. I had to elimate everything except rice for aoubt 2 days and then slowly start adding items back into their diets.

Hope this is not the case, but not too terrible difficult if it is, just requires some additional reading of ingredients.
All the best,
D

The biggest thing you have to worry about when they have diarrhea for any period of time is dehydration. Make sure the baby is getting enough liquid. If you can squeeze in some Pedialyte there, it will help.

Also, my daughter went through the same thing after we got back from vacation in a warmer state, at about the same age. My pediatrician told me to feed her a special brand of formula made by Similac - it was called Similac DF. It's hard to find in regular stores, but Rite Aid had it. It helps to stop the runs, but check with your ped. first if they don't want you giving the baby fiber because I believe it contains fiber to help stop the runs.

Also, for the diaper rash - two really good products that I found at Wal*Mart were Bordreaux's Butt Paste and I can't remember the name of the other one, but it came in a green square container and I actually found it in the pet section.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. I'd be worried too -

Hi there my son had the same thing for about a month, i thought it was related to a cold or virus but after 3 bouts of the same thing i found out my son was lactose intollerant, i started to feed him soy milk/formula and it has helped immensely. sometimes it is not always a virus there are many diff factors as to why a child can have diahrea. and sometmes the pediatrician needs a lil help it took mine (which i love) 3 different times. that would explain why we went through alot of different formulas staring at 10 months( due to a emergency Hysterectomy )he was breastfed until then, and finnally we had to put him on carnation good start (because it was easier for him to digest. i would get a second opinion any time you are not satisfied .

if it's Rotavirus, you'll know because it'll have a very bad distinctive smell...two of my kids have had it before and it's just a horrid smell...i don't have too many suggestions for stopping the diahrea, that haven't already be offered...keep him hydrated and you might need to give him some pedialyte or gatorade too...as for the rash.... we use Balmex, although Butt Paste works well too. Good Luck!

I also would get a second opinion, either from a different pediatrician or from your family dr.

Hi G.,

I have been told (by Kaiser whenever my 3 were sick) to feed applesause, banana,and rice, or rice cereal for an infant with diarrhea. You can also try the yogurt, applesause or chunks or banana in the in the cereal. White bread,(nothing that said whole wheat) dry toast, maybe a little jam for flavor. Cereal like fruit loops, or whatever he can eat with his fingers thats not whole wheat. Another thing to try is rice cakes with cheese flavor, or whatever he likes, rice cakes break up and disolves easily so its not a choking problem. One thing not to give him is anything with real (100%) juice, give him something like Gatrorade or something that said "Drink" As for the rash AD ointmint or Petroleom jelly (vasoline)works for me. If he is still not doing any better after a few days don't wait to take him back to the doctor. Hope he is doing better and this helps.

When my son was about a year old he went throught the same thing for about 1 1/2 months he had diarrhea and was vomiting every time he ate. I went throught the same thing with the doctors they kept telling me it was just a virus and he would get over it. Everytime we thought he was better because he would start eating again but again he would start vomiting and get really lethargic and all he wanted to do was lay in my lap. The doctors couldn't tell me anything he just started getting better on his own. Try feeding him rice and things like that, if not the best thing is pediasure and pedialite so you can at least replace the vitamins and electrolyte that he is losing. Stay away from juices and gatorade, they just do more harm than good when they already have diarrhea.

Hi G.

I would suggest that you take him to the hospital. If he keeps getting tired that could be a sign of dehydration. My son at 15 months got diarrhea and throw-up. We tried to get him to drink and eat with not luck our ped. said take him in to the hospital for and IV and then his spirit should pickup and start to want to eat and drink. Unfortuantly he was moderatly dehydrated and had to be hospitalize the IV did not work as well asthey hoped so we found out after test the he had Rota VIrus. His bum was so red it hurt so bad but they gave us something called triple cream that really worked. I hope this help. Email me if you have anymore questions.
M.

When my daughter had rotavirus it lasted that long as well. There is actually a test they can do for it and I kept on them until they figured out exactly what was going on. I used the Similac DF as well and you can find it at Rite Aide or some Walgreens and that just thickened it up so that her bottom could have a rest. Eventually it just went away and everything went back to normal. But I know I was really worried and bothered by it.

It sounds like Rotavirus-a serious sickness that they are now giving a vaccination for. You need to make sure he doesn't have that because he could get very dehydrated and need to be hospitilized. I would go to a different pediatrician. I would reccommend mine if you are near Parker-I go to Advanced Pediatrics-in Parker Adventist Hospital. I would give them a call and see if you can see Dr. Levin or Dr. Stephens.
Good Luck-I hope your little guy gets better very soon!

My son was fifteen months when he had the same problem. He has since been diagnosed with Celiac Disease which is a gluten/wheat/flour/etc food allergy. It would be a blood test if you want to find out. Or you could make an appointment with Dr. Harnsberger at St. Marks Hospital - she is a pediatric gastroenterologist. I have nothing against regular pedatric doctors but like my son's, sometimes they don't know what to look for. Good luck!

The "B.R.A.T." diet is wonderful for diarrhea. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. Binds the stool, still gives him good nutrients. Fairly bland so it doesn't upset his tummy, etc. Hope that helps!

Go to your nearest childrens hospital, for a second opinion. Diarrhea for a month is very long and dehydration is very serious.

hope he gets better
K.

Hey there. You know my one year old went through the same thing. however, it's only been about 8 days for us. our PA said it was the roto (spelling?) virus that has been going around. Just make sure your young one is staying hydrated. my son had diarrea for two days and then it seemed like it passed then one day he just started vomitting. and couldn't stop. so i stayed home with him for monday and tuesday and then went back to work and he went back to daycare and they mentioned that he seemed not his normal smiley self. he would just lay and watch everything going on. So now it's sunday and my son is finally eating and coming around. he's playing and back to running around. it worried me too. but like i said, it's only been 8 days for us. hope this helps.

A.

I have no suggestions on how to get rid of the diarreah, but for the rash..... have you tried putting Maalox on his butt???? (it removes the acid in the poop, and keeps it from "burning" his butt!!)