Causes of diarrhoea to the newborn

 
Diarrhoea in the newborn can be caused by several reasons. The commonest cause is an infection. Newborn babies should be exclusively breastfed upto the age of 5-6 months. In the normal course they do not need even water to be fed to them. Intestinal infections to newborn babies usually occurs when external foods are given to the baby, or when the baby is fed from an unclean nipple, or when the baby puts an unclean object in the mouth. Most common cause of diarrhoea in infants is a virus called Rotavirus. Bacteria and other organisms can also cause diarrhoea in babies. If your baby has diarrhoea, you must ensure that the baby gets adequate fluids and immediately consult a paediatrician. _Do not medicate the child without medical advice_.