Loose motions are more common under the age of two years. In fact, in rare cases loose motions may be so severe that your child might require hospitalisation and intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

However, a new oral vaccine against the virus causing loose motions is showing a good success rate in clinical trials abroad. But before that, let us take a look at loose motions in children.

Focus on Colour

Children have different patterns of passing stools from birth, with a newborn child passing ten to fifteen stools, while older children pass one or two stools.

For the condition to be called loose motions here are the symptoms you need to look out for:

• Stools should be loose or watery.
• Stools should be passed more than five in number a day
• The colour of stools may be initially yellow, but with loose motions, the stools turn green or even colourless.
• Loose motions are usually accompanied by vomiting, fever, stomach cramps, loss of appetite and irritability.

Cause and Effect

Most commonly, loose motions are a sign of stomach infection. In children, the cause for infection is a virus called Rotavirus. This virus is present in the atmosphere, especially in the rainy seasons.

This virus enters the child stomach through the mouth, when the child puts its fingers or toys into the mouth. Once the virus enters the stomach, it multiplies, and irritates the linings of the stomach and intestine, leading to vomiting and loose motions.

Depending on the severity and immunity of the child, the infection can range from a mild to very severe, and it accompanied by dehydration.

Apart from that, here are some other reasons why you child could get loose motions:

• Other germs like bacteria and amoeba
• Response to foods that cause indigestion
• Antibiotics and other medicines
• Allergies
• Intolerance to a particular foods like milk, vegetables, nuts, seafood and egg. However, these are usually not accompanied by fever or dehydration.