Diarrhea is a common symptom of various medical conditions. It involves having loose, watery stools three or more times per day. Acute, or short-term, diarrhea usually lasts for a couple of days.

A parent or caregiver needs to seek medical attention if the toddler’s diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, is accompanied by a fever of 102°F (38°C) or higher, or there are signs of dehydration. While ...