Causes of diarrhea in five-month-old babies

It is a common phenomenon for 5-month-old babies to have diarrhea. Because children in this period have particularly poor digestive function and immunity, they are particularly prone to diarrhea. Therefore, many parents want to fully understand the causes of diarrhea in 5-month-old babies. The following content provides specific answers so that you can have a comprehensive understanding.

1. Physical factors

This disease mainly occurs in infants and young children, and its internal characteristics are:

(1) The gastrointestinal tract of infants is not fully developed and the enzyme activity is low, but their nutritional needs are relatively high, and the gastrointestinal tract is burdened.

(2) During infancy, the nervous, endocrine, circulatory systems, liver, and kidney functions are immature and their regulatory functions are poor.

(3) Infants’ immune function is also imperfect. The serum Escherichia coli antibody titer is lowest from birth to 2 years old and gradually increases thereafter. Therefore, infants and young children are susceptible to E. coli enteritis. The titer of Escherichia coli antibodies in breast milk is high, especially the secretory IgA of pathogenic Escherichia coli in colostrum, so breastfed children are less likely to get sick and the illness they get is milder. Similarly, infants have low rotavirus antibodies, so when the disease is prevalent in the same population, more infants will get sick.

(4) The distribution of body fluids in infants is different from that in adults. Extracellular fluid accounts for a higher proportion, and the water metabolism is vigorous and the regulatory function is poor, making it easier for infants to develop fluid and electrolyte disorders. Infants are prone to rickets and malnutrition, which can easily lead to digestive dysfunction. At this time, the intestinal secretory IgA is insufficient, and diarrhea is easy to prolong.

2. Infectious factors

It is divided into intra-digestive tract infection and extra-digestive tract infection, with the former being the main type.

(1) Pathogenic microorganisms of digestive tract infection can enter the digestive tract of children through contaminated food or water, and are therefore more likely to occur in artificially fed children. If the utensils or food used for feeding are not sterilized or are not sterilized adequately, infection may occur. The virus can also be transmitted through the respiratory tract or water. The second is transmission by adult carriers of bacteria (viruses). For example, after an outbreak of bacterial (or viral) enteritis in the ward, some medical staff may be infected and become asymptomatic intestinal carriers of bacteria (viruses), which may lead to the spread of pathogens.

(2) Extra-digestive tract infection Infection of organs and tissues outside the digestive tract can also cause diarrhea, which is common in otitis media, pharyngitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection and skin infection. Diarrhea is usually not serious and is more common in younger people. The causes of diarrhea are partly due to digestive dysfunction caused by extraintestinal infection, and partly due to the same pathogen (mainly virus) both inside and outside the intestine.

Many parents want to fully understand the reasons why 5-month-old babies have diarrhea. The above content provides a detailed introduction. Therefore, many parents must pay attention to it. Because if children in this period have diarrhea for a long time, it will have a serious impact on their children's health. After a comprehensive understanding, it must be improved through treatment as soon as possible.