TUMMY TROUBLES: DIARRHEA & FOOD ALLERGIES

COMMON QUESTION #5

Is diarrhea a sign of a food allergy?

DR. KATIE’S ANSWER

Not necessarily. Children have diarrhea for a lot of different reasons. If you feel like your child is having diarrhea due to a certain food, it may be helpful to keep a food diary in order to discuss your concerns with your pediatrician. If at any point your child has blood in their stool, seek medical attention immediately. Speak with your pediatrician before giving your child an OTC antidiarrheal medication, and remember to always read the drug facts label carefully.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON COMMON TUMMY ACHES IN KIDS

While we have discussed some common tummy aches in kids, we can’t possibly cover them all. While OTC medications may help tremendously with tummy aches, there are many things that can cause belly pain in children, some benign and some more serious. I have never told a parent that it was a mistake to bring their child in to be evaluated. The reality is that once you become a parent, you develop a “mommy or daddy instinct.”  If your instinct is telling you something is not right, you should immediately have your child evaluated.

Dr. Katie

I’m proud to take part as a blogging ambassador with the CHPA (Consumer Healthcare Products Association) Educational Foundation and KnowYourOTCs.org. This is a Sponsored Post! While I Have Received Compensation From The CHPA Educational Foundation, All Opinions Are My Own.