2 yr. old diarrhea, starting day 4

[Shami]

Hi
My dd (27 mths) is going into her 4th day of diarrhea. She has no other symptoms, and is playing normally. She doesn't seem dehydrated at all. How can you tell if this is viral or a food poisoning? My husband and I don't have any symptoms as of yet.
I really don't want to haul her into her doctor, but I am getting uncomfortable with the duration. Four days seems like a long time to have diarrhea. She goes somewhere between 5-10 times a day and it is basically water. Sorry, TMI.
Her doctor is in on Wed and Fridays. Her partner is ok, but I'd really rather see her since she lines up with my way of thinking most of the time. If I don't go tomorrow then I may end up having to see her partner.

Following the BRAT (banana, rice, applesauce, toast) diet, lots of fluids and going to start probiotics tomorrow. Anything I'm missing? Thanks!

[Addy's Mom]

You don't have to limit it to the BRAT diet if she's not dehydrated. I'd let her eat all her regular foods if she's willing. More recent studies have shown staying on a regular diet can help speed up recovery.

Four days feels like a horribly long time with diarrhea, but I think it's still within a reasonable time frame (I can't remember for sure, but I think my doc told me up to a week as long as they stay hydrated).

Can you just call the doc tomorrow and describe the symptoms? Mine often tells me to wait it out for a few more days and see if symptoms worsen (or hopefully get better).

[Llyra]

Diarrhea can hang on for awhile, especially in little children. My girls had what was probably rotavirus, and the diarrhea lasted like ten days. The guideline I have here in my AAP book is that it should be checked after two weeks, or sooner if there are other problems-- a dehydrated child, for example, or blood in the stool or something unusual like that.
(DD2 has diarrhea right now, so I've been reading about it just now.)

I wouldn't worry about it if she's alert and active and eating and staying hydrated. Even if it is something like food poisoning, those are usually self-limiting illnesses, and if she was really dangerously sick, she'd be acting more sick, you know? If it's something bacterial or parasitical it won't clear up, but the chances of that are fairly small-- most of the time it's a virus.

I would wait until at least a week or ten days to pass before I made a call to anyone, unless you see something else that sets off your alarm bells.

[balancedmama]

There was a good chart on the Sears site about how long it could last, and whether they needed to be seen or not. You might look around for that and read it, but I think you're still well in the clear.

[Shami]

thank you both!

this morning her poop was still a little watery but she had some soft formed parts so it looks like she is getting better. so far only one elimination. Big improvement!

yeah!

I felt like you both posted, but I just wanted to see some others' opinions.

Thanks again!

[Shami]

Thanks for that chart balanced mama!
We cross posted!