Symptoms of bacterial diarrhea in babies

Bacterial diarrhea in babies is medically called bacterial infectious diarrhea, which is an intestinal infectious disease characterized by diarrhea. The severity of the symptoms after the baby becomes ill varies, but a few will develop serious complications and even lead to death. Therefore, parents must be aware of the symptoms of bacterial diarrhea in their babies and respond promptly when they discover them. So, what are the symptoms of bacterial diarrhea in babies? Let’s take a look below.

The incubation period ranges from hours to days or weeks. Most cases have an acute onset, while a few have a slower onset. The clinical manifestations vary in severity, with gastrointestinal symptoms being the most prominent, including poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which may be accompanied by tenesmus. The number of diarrhea episodes can be as many as a dozen or twenty times a day, or even countless times, and the stools are watery, mucous, or bloody. Secretory diarrhea generally does not cause abdominal pain, but invasive diarrhea often causes abdominal pain. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as chills, fever, fatigue, dizziness, etc. In severe cases, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and even shock may occur due to excessive water loss. The course of the disease is from several days to 1 to 2 weeks and is usually self-limiting, but a few cases may relapse. The clinical types of diarrhea caused by different bacteria are different. The common types are described as follows:

1. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection

The onset is acute. Mild cases include watery diarrhea. Typical cases include sudden severe abdominal pain and watery stools. After a few days, bloody stools, abdominal pain, diarrhea, low-grade fever or no fever occur.

2. Yersinia infection

Gastroenteritis symptoms are prominent in infants and children, while enteritis is the main symptom in adults. The onset is acute, with fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain as the main symptoms. The fever usually lasts 2 to 3 days, and the diarrhea usually lasts 1 to 2 days. In severe cases, it can last up to 1 to 2 weeks. The stool is mostly watery and contains mucus, and may contain blood and pus. Abdominal pain is common and may be limited to the right lower abdomen, and may be accompanied by muscle tension and rebound pain.

3. Proteus infection

Under certain conditions, it can cause a variety of infections, such as purulent infection, urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis, endocarditis, sepsis, etc. The main symptoms are fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The abdominal pain is located in the upper abdomen and around the navel. The diarrhea occurs several times a day in mild cases and 20 to 30 times a day in severe cases.

4. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea

Most present with mild to moderate watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal distension, and scattered cramping pain in the lower or entire abdomen. In severe cases, mucus in the stool is also seen, and blood in the stool is rare. Severe complications include dehydration, hypoproteinemia, electrolyte imbalance, intestinal paralysis and intestinal perforation.

5. Traveler’s diarrhea

Usually, the disease has an acute onset (several hours to several days). About 40% of travelers' diarrhea patients have mild symptoms, while severe cases have obvious diarrhea symptoms accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.

6. AIDS-related diarrhea

Diarrhea is often the first symptom of AIDS and the cause of death. Patients often have symptoms such as fever, general discomfort, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and weight loss. Acute diarrhea usually lasts no more than two weeks, while chronic diarrhea usually lasts for weeks or months.

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