Diarrhea is a sudden increase in the number and looseness of bowel movements.
Mild diarrhea is the passage of a few loose or mushy stools. Moderate diarrhea gives many watery stools. The main complication of diarrhea is dehydration from too much loss of body fluids. Symptoms are dry mouth, the absence of tears, a reduction in the amount of urine, and increasing sluggishness in the child. The usual cause of diarrhea in children is a viral infection of the intestines, called gastroenteritis.