What Causes Diarrhea in a Toddler?
Disease Viral, bacterial or parasitic infections can cause diarrhea in toddlers. Rotovirus is an extremely common virus that causes diarrhea in babies and toddlers. Symptoms of rotovirus aside from watery and foul-smelling diarrhea include vomiting and low-grade fever, which will appear approximately 2 days after initially being exposed to the virus. Other viruses, including adenovirus, astrovirus and calicivirus, can also cause diarrhea. Viruses such as these are transmitted when the toddler comes into contact with a contaminated surface, then puts his hands (or the contaminated item) in his mouth. Bacterial infections can be transmitted in the same manner but can also be derived from eating food that has been contaminated with E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria or Camphylobacter. Bacterial infections tend to be more serious than viral infections, so if your toddler has diarrhea in combination with stomach cramps and blood in the stool, you should seek help from a pediatrician. Medications
