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What Causes Disturbed Sleep And Fatigue In An Infant While Recovering From Diarrhea?

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Posted on Mon, 7 May 2018
Twitter Mon, 7 May 2018 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 17 Oct 2023 Last reviewed on
Question : I have a 7month old girl baby & she has been having very disturbed sleep from last few weeks. It all started after we went out for a trip involving road/train/flight travel in last week of March. During the trip we dint observe any issues , however once we came back home. Baby started having loose motions, loose motions went on for atleast 3 weeks & we consulted a local pediatric who advised Taxim syrup(for bacterial infection treatment) for her 5 days .After 5 days when the loose motion dint stop, we waited for few more days & then doctor asked us to start with Taxim dosage for another 5 days, after which the loose motions subsided. All these days she was having very disturbed sleep & would continuously seek feeding through out the night, Now even after her initial illness is cured, she is still with the same habit of not getting a continuous sleep at night. As soon as she goes to sleep within 20 mins she would start crying for feed & after feed would go off to sleep again. But the problem is every 20 -25 mins she keeps seeking feed & this continues through out the night. In morning as well she doesn't sleep continuously for more than 30mins, when she is awake she is playful & doesn't show any signs of fatigue or illness. Please suggest on how can we correct her habits or get her to a good peaceful sleep.
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Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Sleep hygiene

Detailed Answer:
Hi... I understand your concern.
For a 7 month old baby, it is very difficult to change the sleep habit as they don't understand what ever we do.
This is just a habit which might have started due to the illness which is very common in this scenario.

This is because of the attachment the baby develops during illness.

This has to gradually settle by itself.

I do not think whatever we do will change this by force.

Best regards - Dr Sumanth Amperayani
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (24 minutes later)
Hi Doctor thanks for your response, however we are most concerned about she being sleep deprived. Through out the day she would be sleeping a XXXXXXX of 8 hrs & that too in a discontinous manner. Would this affect her? Anything that we could do treat or get her to sleep more peacefully ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (56 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Sleep hygiene

Detailed Answer:
Hi... there are medicines which induce sleep but not recommended at this age group.

This sleep cycle gets back to normal once she forgets about the suffering she underwent in illness.

Give her some time.

Nothing adverse Will happen due to this sleep alteration.

Best regards - Dr Sumanth Amperayani
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Sumanth Amperayani

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 8337 Questions

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What Causes Disturbed Sleep And Fatigue In An Infant While Recovering From Diarrhea?

Brief Answer: Sleep hygiene Detailed Answer: Hi... I understand your concern. For a 7 month old baby, it is very difficult to change the sleep habit as they don't understand what ever we do. This is just a habit which might have started due to the illness which is very common in this scenario. This is because of the attachment the baby develops during illness. This has to gradually settle by itself. I do not think whatever we do will change this by force. Best regards - Dr Sumanth Amperayani