Diarrhea is usually the result of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection of the lining of the intestines. In some cases, food allergies can also cause diarrhea, and this is something you need to look out for - if your child always has a short bout of diarrhea after consuming one particular food, he or she may be allergic to this food. If this is the case, the food in question should be avoided completely. In some cases, a few years of complete avoidance is enough to get rid of an allergy, while in others, treatment may be needed.
If your child has mild diarrhea, it is usually possible to handle it on your own, but for severe diarrhea, you should visit a doctor, especially if the child continues to pass several loose stools a day, for several days. If your child passes three or four pasty or water stools over the course of a day, the diarrhea can usually be considered to be mild. In this case, the treatment is simple - just avoid giving the child foods that may worsen the diarrhea, and ensure that the child gets plenty of fluids. The main risk posed by diarrhea is that of dehydration - the body loses a lot of fluid through the stools, and it is important to keep replenishing the lost fluids. A dry mouth, extremely dark colored urine, or drastically reduced frequency of urine are all signs of dehydration, and should be watched out for. The best way to prevent dehydration is to give your child plenty of water. Avoid fruit juices, as sometimes an excessive amount of fruit juices can end up causing or worsening diarrhea. Milk and milk products should also be avoided at this time. Your child may not have much of an appetite, but should be fed to keep energy levels at a reasonable level. Foods that can be easily digested and will not make your child nauseous are cereals, rice, potatoes, and noodles, as long as these are prepared with a minimum of oil and spices.
This is all that is required to get over a bout of mild diarrhea - no real treatment is needed. However, if your toddler has severe diarrhea - if he or she is passing extremely watery stools, or passing stools more than five times a day, medical attention may be needed. In addition to the measures described above, you should give your child a glucose solution, but if there is no improvement by the third day, visit a doctor immediately.
answered by M W