Diarrhea is common in children, but when loose or watery stools continue for 14 days or longer, it is considered persistent diarrhea. At that point, treatment is not simply about stopping the stools. The child may need assessment for dehydration, nutritional problems, and the underlying reason the diarrhea is continuing. Persistent diarrhea can have different causes, including infections and other gastrointestinal or nutritional problems. Because the appropriate treatment depends on the cause...

Diarrhea is a common digestive problem, particularly in children, and infections are one of its important causes. Infectious diarrhea can spread when disease-causing organisms from feces reach the mouth through contaminated hands, food, water, objects, or other routes. The 5 F's of diarrhea provide a simple way to understand some of these common transmission pathways: Feces, Fingers, Flies, Food, and Fluids. Understanding these routes can help families recognize how contamination can move...

What Are the Common Chronic Liver Diseases in Children? When we think of liver disease, we often picture it as an adult health issue - linked to alcohol use or years of poor lifestyle habits. But children can develop chronic liver disease too, and the causes are usually very different from what affects adults. As a parent, understanding the common chronic liver diseases in children can help you recognize early warning signs and know when to seek medical care. In this blog, we walk through...