A common childhood illness, usually mild — but the main danger is dehydration, which can develop quickly in young children.
Diarrhoea is one of the most common reasons young children are brought in for care, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection that the body clears within a few days. The illness itself is rarely the main danger — dehydration is, and it can develop faster in small children than adults expect.
Most childhood diarrhoea comes from viral infections spread through contaminated hands, food, water, or close contact with another unwell child, common in settings like daycare where children are in close proximity.
The priority is preventing and treating dehydration with oral rehydration solution, alongside continued feeding — including continued breastfeeding for infants, which is protective rather than something to pause. Most cases resolve with supportive care alone; antibiotics are only needed for specific bacterial causes identified through testing.
Seek care immediately if: your child shows signs of dehydration, has blood in the stool, or diarrhoea lasts more than two days.
