Toddler’s diarrhoea

Toddler’s diarrhoea is a diagnosis of exclusion when all other diseases have been excluded. It is very common in children between the ages of 1 and 5 years of age and is of no consequence. It simply is a reflection of the increased speed of transit of food going through the gut. As long as the child is growing well and has a good appetite and no other symptoms then this is most likely to be the diagnosis. It also goes by the name of “Peas and Carrots syndrome” where often food particles are seen in the stool and up to 5-6 loose bowel motions per day can occur. Sometimes it can be helped by decreasing juices in the diet, increasing the amount of fat and decreasing the amount of fibre. It is rare for any anti-diarrhoeal agents to be used in children as they are associated with side effects and are not promoted for this reason.