Re-phrasing earlier post: how long can a diarrhoea bug last in a baby?

[Elibean]

In other words, could it still be a viral thing after nearly a week? Started during a streaming cold, but cold all gone now.

She's 11 months...

Do you mean your dd has had diarrhoea for a whole week? How bad is it?

I would take her to the docs if you are worried. Obviously keep her fluids up as much as poss, but I would make an appt on Monday if you can.

When my DD gets tummy bugs, the diarrhoea seems to go on and on. My doctor told me that babies often become lactose intolerant for a while after a bug because of the upset in the guts friendly bacteria. My DD is 2 so i am able to cut out all dairy products for about a week and this seems to cover her. I am not sure you can do the same for an 11month old. But i have given watered down bottles when she was very young. As long as she is keeping fluids down and not dehydrated then i woudlnt worry too much, but see the doc on monday. I do remember DD having an awful bug at about 8m, it carried on for about two weeks, i was pulling my hair out, doctor said he wasnt worried, i was - i took in a stool sample (the doctor was thrilled ) and it turned out to be viral and she got better by herself.

when my ds had diarrhoea and I took him to the doctor she said that it was probably viral but if it lasted more than a week to take a stool sample in to get tested. Luckily ds's cleared up after about 6 days or so, so I didnt need to try to get a sample. You can get special test tubes with a scooper bit on the lid for scooping up the sample. Better to get it tested just to be on the safe side if it is lingering on a bit.

p.s. current advice is to continue with normal milk/solid feeds but as ds was 11 momths at the time I did stop the milk feeds for a couple of days but continued with his solids. I offered plenty of other fluids. It is also advised to give starchy carbohydrate rich foods e.g. pasta, potatoes, rice, etc

Just wanted to echo what Lucyellensmum said - my DS had a tummy bug for over 10 days when he was 5 months old - the vomiting stopped within a couple of days but the diarrhoea went on and on and on.... Also took him to the doctors after about a week of it but he said exactly the same - that babies often become temporarily lactose intolerant which causes the diarrhoea to go on.

Main thing is to keep them hydrated as much as possible (god that sounds like I am talking about a plant doesn't it??)

We had the same with ds when he was about 6 months. GP not worried as he was not otherwise obviously poorly. But it did last for a couple of weeks before I was advised to
use soy based products for about 6 weeks (made a difference almost instantly iirc) instead of cow's milk ones. He was fine after that.

Get her checked by your GP if you are concerned or if she seems poorly in other ways, but try leaving out the cows milk stuff and see how she goes.

dd had diarrhoea when she was 10 months, lasted just over a week, just need to keep them drinking and follow the 'brat' rule, as in best foods to give after/during v&d, banana, rice, apple or toast.

thank you, all, that helps.

dd saw GP yesterday, he said to bring in a stool sample on Monday and then if it carried on they'd do malabsorption tests (meaning coeliac disease, I imagine - she was tested for CF at birth). He seemed surprised it was carrying on so long, if it was viral - plus she's had no temp, not seemed ill in herself apart from a streamy cold at the start of the week.

Today, we tried to change her formula in case it was lactose intolerance...gave her a soy based one, no diarrhoea: we were thrilled, but after her nap - ie several hours later - she burped, cried, then vomitted what seemed like her entire bottle plus undigested lunch

And now she wants nothing but water (been off solids for days anyway).

I rang NHS direct, who said to focus on rehydration and not panic...but have to confess, you lot are helping me not panic far better than NHS direct!

Any other thoughts or experiences very welcome, adn thanks to all who've posted.

Mercy, full on watery escaping from nappy type diarrhoea, now. Was more bits of food and mucousy a few days ago, seemed to ease off (ie from 10x day to 5x day) one day, then got worse.