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Pediatrics66 papers

Chronic diarrhea of infants AND/OR young children

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Chronic diarrhea in infants and young children is characterized by persistent loose or watery stools lasting more than a few weeks, often impacting growth and nutritional status. It can result from various etiologies including infectious agents, malabsorption syndromes, and environmental factors 113.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical History: Detailed history including duration, stool characteristics, growth parameters, and dietary habits 113.
  • Physical Examination: Focus on signs of malnutrition, dehydration, and other systemic symptoms 113.
  • Laboratory Tests: Stool cultures, ova and parasite exams, electrolytes, and blood counts to rule out infections and assess nutritional status 113.
  • Imaging and Endoscopy: Considered in cases of suspected malabsorption syndromes or when other causes are not identified 113.
  • Management

  • Identify and Treat Underlying Cause: Address infectious causes with appropriate antibiotics or antiparasitics; manage malabsorption syndromes with dietary modifications 113.
  • Nutritional Support: Ensure adequate caloric and nutrient intake, possibly with specialized formulas 113.
  • Hydration: Maintain hydration status, especially in severe cases 113.
  • Probiotics (with Caution): Consider use cautiously in children due to potential immune overstimulation; monitor for adverse effects 8.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Chronic diarrhea significantly impacts growth and development; early intervention is crucial 113.
  • Comorbidities: Consider additional health impacts such as those exacerbated by climate change, including increased exposure to environmental pollutants affecting gut health 11314.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Thorough Evaluation: Conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment including history, physical exam, and relevant laboratory tests to identify the underlying cause of chronic diarrhea 113 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Targeted Treatment: Initiate treatment based on identified etiology, prioritizing infectious causes and nutritional support 113 (Evidence: Strong).
  • Monitor Growth and Nutrition: Regularly assess growth parameters and nutritional status to guide management adjustments 113 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Consider Environmental Factors: Be aware of environmental influences, such as climate change impacts, which may exacerbate gastrointestinal issues 11314 (Evidence: Moderate).
  • Use Probiotics with Caution: If considering probiotics, carefully evaluate potential risks and benefits, especially in vulnerable pediatric populations 8 (Evidence: Weak).
  • References

    1 Sampath V, Nadeau KC, Ebi KL, Narvaez D, Tessema MT, Pak-Gorstein S et al.. Improving planetary health is integral to improving children's health-a call to action. Pediatric research 2025. link 2 Luo L, Guan J, Hei S, Liu Y, Wu C, Jiang F et al.. Bibliometric and visual analysis of global research on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and children's health: evidence, emerging concerns, and research gaps. Global health action 2025. link 3 Zhang M, Meng X. School built environment and children's health: a scientometric analysis. Reviews on environmental health 2025. link 4 Bustamante MMDC. Climate change and children's health: resilience challenges for Brazil. Jornal de pediatria 2025. link 5 Moraca S, Indinnimeo L, De Nuntiis P. Risk perceptions of Italian paediatricians for the impact of climate change on children's health. Italian journal of pediatrics 2024. link 6 Ahdoot S, Baum CR, Cataletto MB, Hogan P, Wu CB, Bernstein A. Climate Change and Children's Health: Building a Healthy Future for Every Child. Pediatrics 2024. link 7 Abdollahi S, Waygood EOD, Aliyas Z, Cloutier MS. An Overview of How the Built Environment Relates to Children's Health. Current environmental health reports 2023. link 8 Kumar H, Schütz F, Bhardwaj K, Sharma R, Nepovimova E, Dhanjal DS et al.. Recent advances in the concept of paraprobiotics: Nutraceutical/functional properties for promoting children health. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2023. link 9 Albert A, Islam S, Haklay M, McEachan RRC. Nothing about us without us: A co-production strategy for communities, researchers and stakeholders to identify ways of improving health and reducing inequalities. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy 2023. link 10 Jonnalagadda P, Swoboda C, Singh P, Gureddygari H, Scarborough S, Dunn I et al.. Developing Dashboards to Address Children's Health Disparities in Ohio. Applied clinical informatics 2022. link 11 Fyfe-Johnson AL, Hazlehurst MF, Perrins SP, Bratman GN, Thomas R, Garrett KA et al.. Nature and Children's Health: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics 2021. link 12 White L. Rights of children and young people in health care. Journal of paediatrics and child health 2020. link 13 Anderko L, Chalupka S, Du M, Hauptman M. Climate changes reproductive and children's health: a review of risks, exposures, and impacts. Pediatric research 2020. link 14 Eskenazi B, Etzel RA, Sripada K, Cairns MR, Hertz-Picciotto I, Kordas K et al.. The International Society for Children's Health and the Environment Commits to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint to Safeguard Children's Health. Environmental health perspectives 2020. link 15 Linton JM, Nagda J, Falusi OO. Advocating for Immigration Policies that Promote Children's Health. Pediatric clinics of North America 2019. link 16 Kreimeier S, Greiner W. EQ-5D-Y as a Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument for Children and Adolescents: The Instrument's Characteristics, Development, Current Use, and Challenges of Developing Its Value Set. Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 2019. link 17 Yang P, Chen G, Wang P, Zhang K, Deng F, Yang H et al.. Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D-CHN): a school-based study in China. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation 2018. link 18 Vessey JA, Rechkemmer A. Natural approaches to children's health: herbals and complementary and alternative medicine. Pediatric nursing 2001. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Improving planetary health is integral to improving children's health-a call to action.Sampath V, Nadeau KC, Ebi KL, Narvaez D, Tessema MT, Pak-Gorstein S et al. Pediatric research (2025)
    2. [2]
    3. [3]
      School built environment and children's health: a scientometric analysis.Zhang M, Meng X Reviews on environmental health (2025)
    4. [4]
    5. [5]
      Risk perceptions of Italian paediatricians for the impact of climate change on children's health.Moraca S, Indinnimeo L, De Nuntiis P Italian journal of pediatrics (2024)
    6. [6]
      Climate Change and Children's Health: Building a Healthy Future for Every Child.Ahdoot S, Baum CR, Cataletto MB, Hogan P, Wu CB, Bernstein A Pediatrics (2024)
    7. [7]
      An Overview of How the Built Environment Relates to Children's Health.Abdollahi S, Waygood EOD, Aliyas Z, Cloutier MS Current environmental health reports (2023)
    8. [8]
      Recent advances in the concept of paraprobiotics: Nutraceutical/functional properties for promoting children health.Kumar H, Schütz F, Bhardwaj K, Sharma R, Nepovimova E, Dhanjal DS et al. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2023)
    9. [9]
      Nothing about us without us: A co-production strategy for communities, researchers and stakeholders to identify ways of improving health and reducing inequalities.Albert A, Islam S, Haklay M, McEachan RRC Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy (2023)
    10. [10]
      Developing Dashboards to Address Children's Health Disparities in Ohio.Jonnalagadda P, Swoboda C, Singh P, Gureddygari H, Scarborough S, Dunn I et al. Applied clinical informatics (2022)
    11. [11]
      Nature and Children's Health: A Systematic Review.Fyfe-Johnson AL, Hazlehurst MF, Perrins SP, Bratman GN, Thomas R, Garrett KA et al. Pediatrics (2021)
    12. [12]
      Rights of children and young people in health care.White L Journal of paediatrics and child health (2020)
    13. [13]
      Climate changes reproductive and children's health: a review of risks, exposures, and impacts.Anderko L, Chalupka S, Du M, Hauptman M Pediatric research (2020)
    14. [14]
      The International Society for Children's Health and the Environment Commits to Reduce Its Carbon Footprint to Safeguard Children's Health.Eskenazi B, Etzel RA, Sripada K, Cairns MR, Hertz-Picciotto I, Kordas K et al. Environmental health perspectives (2020)
    15. [15]
      Advocating for Immigration Policies that Promote Children's Health.Linton JM, Nagda J, Falusi OO Pediatric clinics of North America (2019)
    16. [16]
      EQ-5D-Y as a Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument for Children and Adolescents: The Instrument's Characteristics, Development, Current Use, and Challenges of Developing Its Value Set.Kreimeier S, Greiner W Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (2019)
    17. [17]
      Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D-CHN): a school-based study in China.Yang P, Chen G, Wang P, Zhang K, Deng F, Yang H et al. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation (2018)
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