Many conditions, medicines, and diseases interfere with your child's ability to heal or fight infection. Your child may be at risk for a more serious problem from his or her symptoms if he or she has any of the following. Be sure to tell your child's health professional.

Conditions

• A newborn or is less than 3 months old. Newborns younger than 3 months of age have a greater risk for developing dehydration than older infants and children.
• Babies born prematurely. This risk continues until the child is 6 months older than when he or she was expected to be born.
• Abnormally slow growth and development
• Developed diarrhea:
  • After drinking untreated water or unpasteurized dairy products
  • During or after traveling, especially in underdeveloped areas of the world
  • During or after a ship cruise
• Exposure to other family members or friends with diarrhea
• History of intussusception
• Previous abdominal surgery
• A family history of HIV or high-risk behaviors, such as drug abuse
• Day care or group living situations, such as dormitories, summer camps, and shelter homes
• Exposure to farm animals or reptiles, such as snakes, lizards, or turtles
• Exposure to poisons, such as pesticides

Medicines

• Antibiotics, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, clindamycin, tetracycline, and cephalosporins. Diarrhea is of particular concern if you have recently been hospitalized and received intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
• Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft)
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as captopril (Capoten) or enalapril (Vasotec)
• Antacids containing magnesium
• Colchicine
• Corticosteroid treatment, such as prednisone
• Digoxin
• Diuretics, such as furosemide or thiazides
• Laxatives, such as Correctol, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, or Feen-a-Mint
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Metformin
• Propranolol, such as Inderal
• Radiation therapy
• Quinidine, such as Cardioquin or Quin-Release
• Theophylline, such as Theo-Dur, Theo-24, or Slo-Bid

Diseases

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Digestive problems, such as lactose intolerance
• Heart disease
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• Kidney disease
• Malabsorption syndromes, such as celiac disease or cystic fibrosis
• Malnutrition