three-day Do not give the child milk, which may further aggravate diarrhea. Encourage the child to drink plenty of clear liquids-tea. water, flavored gelatin water, and commercial electrolyte solutions (available from your pharmacist) are best. PRECAUTIONS • Do not give antidiarrheal medications to children, since side effects are common and can be dangerous. • Isolate an infant from children who are ill with vomiting and diarrhea. • If there is blood in the stools, high fever, prostration (extreme weakness or collapse), or severe or prolonged diarrhea (lasting more than two to three days), call your doctor. Dysentery may be the cause. • Report frequent, repeated diarrhea to your doctor. It may be a symptom of colitis, enteritis, or cystic fibrosis, especially if there is weight loss. MEDICAL TREATMENT Your doctor may order blood tests, xray studies of the large and small intestines, and sigmoidoscopy (examination of the large intestine with a special lighted instrument). In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary. RELATED TOPICS: Botulism; Constipation; Cystic fibrosis; Dehydration; Diarrhea in young children; Dysentery: Food allergies: Food poisoning: Gastroenteritis, acute: Viral infections; Vomiting Diarrhea in young children SYMPTOMS • Loose, watery stools • Mucus in stools • Red blood flecks in stools • Cramps • Fever • Loss of appetite • Weight loss HOME CARE • If the child is also vomiting, treat the vomiting first Restrict the child's diet to clear liquids only. When vomiting has stopped, treat diarrhea. Stop all foods with roughage, including vegetables and most fruits (bananas and apples are all right). Do not give milk. • Stop any foods and beverages that have recently been added to the child's diet Such additions sometimes cause diarrhea in infants. • To avoid dehydration (serious loss of body fluids), give the child plenty of clear liquids-tea, flavored gelatin water, and commercial electrolyte solutions (available from your pharmacist) are best • Continue treating diarrhea until the child has no stools or normal stools for 24 to 48 hours. PRECAUTIONS « Do not give antidiarrheal medications to infants and children. • Diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration. Be alert for the symptoms of dehydration: infrequent or decreased urination, sunken eyes, drowsiness, rapid or slow breathing, sunken soft spot at the top of an infant's head, dryness in the mouth, rigidity of the skin when pinched gently. Dehydration can be especially serious in infants and children under the age of five. • In infants, dehydration can occur as rapidly as 12 to 24 hours after the start of diarrhea or vomiting. • If an infant or young child shows any symptoms of dehydration, call your doctor. • Solid foods aggravate diarrhea. If the child is drinking plenty of liquids, solid foods can be avoided for several days without any danger to the child's health. • Improperly prepared and improperly refrigerated formulas commonly cause serious diarrhea in infants. infants