Diarrhoea - rotavirus, lactose intolerance or teething?

[dimiddlesex]

Hi,
Can anyone please help?

My 6 and a half month daughter has had diarrhoea for the past 7 days. She initially had a cold, followed by a couple of days vomiting followed by the diarrhoea.

We have spoken to NHS direct and seen the GP who thinks it may be rotavirus - a sample has been sent to confirm. We were advised to starve her for 24 hours and give dioralyte, then reintroduce diluted formula and bland foods gradually.

The dioralyte seemed to work. Yesterday we introduced the diluted formula and just had wet nappies all day, but then the diarrhoea returned at bed time and during the night. Today she has had wet nappies all day, but the diarrhoea retuned again at bed time but seemed slightly less watery.

I am concerned that she may have developed lactose intolerance. I spoke to the GP about this yesterday, who said that it was a bit early to say and to leave it for a fortnight. I don't feel I can wait a week. If she has lactose intolerance would she have diarrhoea during the day?She is teething, so could this cause diarrhoea just at night? Or is it just the end of the virus?

Please can anyone help?
Thanks

[woosmummy]

it might just be a tempoarary lactose intolerance ie there just isn't enough of it (the lactose) due to the diarrhoea. Give it a couple of days to setle. Woo had a similar thing where I thought he was lactose intolerant but it took a while and he was back to normal.

i expect that the diarrhoea returns at night because all the available lactase has been used up during the day??? - did a Biomedical science degree but don't remember if the enzymes that break down lactose get used up - too much time in the pubs of southampton!!

[myrrhthamoo]

I don't know anything about lactose intolerance, sorry, but diarrhoea from rotavirus tends to smell cheesy (that's the best way I can describe it anyway - sorry if TMI). The stools sample you've provided will tell you for certain.

Sounds far too extreme to be caused my teething, imo.

Hope she's better soon, poor little mite.

[dimiddlesex]

Thanks - hopefully you're right. She has just gone for 14 hours now without any diahorrea - longest so far. Fingers crossed.

[FrostyTheGloworm]

have you tried using good bacteria? infant one comes in a powder which you add to bottle of water or formula, its tasteless. it can help with any of the conditions you mentioned, tummy bug/teething/food intolerance.