Please Help!! What can I do for my 19 month old boy with severe diarrhea?!


Question:

Please Help!! What can I do for my 19 month old boy with severe diarrhea?

symptoms started a week ago; watery stool in morning, fever of 102 that afternoon. Fever lasted 2 days. diarrhea has not stopped since, & occurs approx. every 1-3 hours. Stools range from loose bowel, to a yellow gelatin looking stuff. By third day developed major diaper rash, with blisters on the tip of penis, and scrotum, and his foreskin was swollen. Immediately took him to his Dr., told me to put damp tea bags in diaper for rash/blisters, (blisters disappeared but still has rash) and said the diarrhea needs to run its course; could be a viral infection, which the diarrhea is getting it out of his system, and he should be over it within a few days. (it hasn't stopped yet) He's not dehydrated,(giving him pedialyte throughout the day) and tried everything with his diet, but nothing helps. I cannot get rid of his diaper rash (used desitin, bag balm, etc)without getting rid of his diarrhea!!! Diaper changes are pure torture for him (& me) anymore. Advice PLEASE asap


Answers:

First of all, you're doing great by giving him Pedialyte and talking with your doctor.

Here are some easy remedies to help with severe diaper rash:
1. Buy some Aveeno Baby Oatmeal Bath, mix it into a lukewarm tub, and let your son sit in it for 15-20 minutes. When you dry him after a bath, make sure you PAT him dry, not rub.

2. Here is a homemade diaper ointment that works better than anything else I've tried. Get a small tub and mix equal parts of pure cornstarch (like you use for cooking, not the body powder) and 2% zinc oxide cream. You can "thin it out" somewhat with Desitin. It will literally look and have the consistency of spackle. I put this on my daughter at night, and it's still there in the morning. You can't beat it!!

3. When you do change his diaper (which you should do every two hours until the rash clears up...even urine can keep it from healing), make sure you clean him well (again, gently), and use either unscented wipes, or just plain water. A good way to make your own gentle diaper wipes is to take a roll of paper towels, put them in an empty wipes container, and add a drop of his baby wash (the milder the better) and a drop of baby oil. Fill the rest of the bin with water. It's cheap, and it works!!

4. If the rash persists, I would take him back to the doctor. Some diaper rashes can develop into fungal skin infections rather quickly (through no fault of your own), and NOTHING will heal it but an anti-fungal. I would try the above remedies for three days, and if you don't see a DRASTIC improvement, call your doctor right away.

As far as food, remember that fruits starting with "P" make poop....peaches, prunes, plums, pears...try to feed him lots of bananas and apples. This helps me when my daughter gets bouts of diarrhea.

Best of luck to you!!




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