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Are Laxatives On A Daily Basis Safe For An Infant?
Question: Is 3 different laxatives on a daily basis for the past 2 1/2 years 'normal' for a 3 year old girl ?? Even with this level of medication she doesn't always manage to open her bowels..
Brief Answer:
Recommended to find out the real causes to constipation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through the medical history of your daughter and understood your concerns.
It is not advised to use laxatives to infants as they will alter the normal function of bowels.
The very first thing I do when a patient comes to my clinic with the problems of your daughter, I usually go deeper to understand WHY they are having constipation:
- not drinking enough fluids?
- she is naughty and picky in foods?
- not enough fiber-rich foods in the diet?
- not enough active?
- taking too often antibiotics?
- candida infection of GI tract: culture of stool is recommended.
You can discuss this further with her pediatrician.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Klerida
Recommended to find out the real causes to constipation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone through the medical history of your daughter and understood your concerns.
It is not advised to use laxatives to infants as they will alter the normal function of bowels.
The very first thing I do when a patient comes to my clinic with the problems of your daughter, I usually go deeper to understand WHY they are having constipation:
- not drinking enough fluids?
- she is naughty and picky in foods?
- not enough fiber-rich foods in the diet?
- not enough active?
- taking too often antibiotics?
- candida infection of GI tract: culture of stool is recommended.
You can discuss this further with her pediatrician.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Klerida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Thank you so much for your reply.. You are the first person to agree with me that the cause for constipation needs to be found.
To answer in brief your questions:
Fluids are higher than recommend daily amount
She has multiple food allergies, and often has to go back to Elemental Diet due to the constipation.. but this problem has been since birth so it is outwith her control.
Fiber ok.. and plenty active, when she can be due to the fatigue she suffers due to constipation
Only had antibiotics once in her life
Stool been tested for infections...
She has been scoped (Upper & Lowe GI Tract) twice now, after a Fecal Calprotectin test came back with a level of 600+... 1st one found severe inflammation of colon, but all biopsies came back negative... So she went back to Elemental Diet (amino acid formula only) and was re-scoped 9 weeks later... all inflammation was gone
Months on from that now, and all her original symptoms are back.. and local medical team seem to be at a loss..
To answer in brief your questions:
Fluids are higher than recommend daily amount
She has multiple food allergies, and often has to go back to Elemental Diet due to the constipation.. but this problem has been since birth so it is outwith her control.
Fiber ok.. and plenty active, when she can be due to the fatigue she suffers due to constipation
Only had antibiotics once in her life
Stool been tested for infections...
She has been scoped (Upper & Lowe GI Tract) twice now, after a Fecal Calprotectin test came back with a level of 600+... 1st one found severe inflammation of colon, but all biopsies came back negative... So she went back to Elemental Diet (amino acid formula only) and was re-scoped 9 weeks later... all inflammation was gone
Months on from that now, and all her original symptoms are back.. and local medical team seem to be at a loss..
Brief Answer:
Test reports are needed...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for following up.
1. First, I need to have the reports of tests you did in order to get them analyzed by myself. I need to also know where they got the biopsies. Usually, in such cases, there are needed around 12 biopsies.
2. In rare cases, constipation is one of the symptoms of Crohn's disease. This is an inflammatory disease which is triggered by food allergies like in case of your daughter. Furthermore, as lesions are also noted in the stomach are highly suggestive for Crohn's disease although her young age.
3. Another indicator for inflammatory bowel disease is to measure the antibodies level, typical for inflammatory bowel diseases.
4. Another cause could be idiopathic colitis, which might be presented with her clinical symptoms.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Klerida
Test reports are needed...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Thank you for following up.
1. First, I need to have the reports of tests you did in order to get them analyzed by myself. I need to also know where they got the biopsies. Usually, in such cases, there are needed around 12 biopsies.
2. In rare cases, constipation is one of the symptoms of Crohn's disease. This is an inflammatory disease which is triggered by food allergies like in case of your daughter. Furthermore, as lesions are also noted in the stomach are highly suggestive for Crohn's disease although her young age.
3. Another indicator for inflammatory bowel disease is to measure the antibodies level, typical for inflammatory bowel diseases.
4. Another cause could be idiopathic colitis, which might be presented with her clinical symptoms.
Hope it was of help!
Dr.Klerida
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hello,
I don't have copies of tests results but I have called them today and requested copies. So I can forward them to you as soon as I get these.
Tests I do know results to, which may not be relevant at all are:
IgA 0.57 (deficient)
HLA Gene test : Positive Result
Fecal Calprotectin (at last check) result over 600.. (for a child of her age this showed very high level of bowel inflammation)
Calcium, Folate, Selenium, Vitamin K are all very low
You say about checking antibody levels, does this test have a particular name? Is it a blood test, as I could ask our family doctor to do this test.
Thanks
XXXX
I don't have copies of tests results but I have called them today and requested copies. So I can forward them to you as soon as I get these.
Tests I do know results to, which may not be relevant at all are:
IgA 0.57 (deficient)
HLA Gene test : Positive Result
Fecal Calprotectin (at last check) result over 600.. (for a child of her age this showed very high level of bowel inflammation)
Calcium, Folate, Selenium, Vitamin K are all very low
You say about checking antibody levels, does this test have a particular name? Is it a blood test, as I could ask our family doctor to do this test.
Thanks
XXXX
Brief Answer:
HLA gene test positive indicates an Autoimmune disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
THANK YOU ASKING FOLLOW UP.
HLA gene test positive is indicative for an autoimmune disorder. Crohn's disease is one of them.
IBD Serology antibodies are blood tests:
AASCA Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ab, IgA
GASCA Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ab, IgG,
NSA Neutrophil Specific Antibodies
In my opinion, you should consult a pediatric gastroenterologist to perform these exams.
Wish her fast recovery!
DR.Klerida
HLA gene test positive indicates an Autoimmune disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
THANK YOU ASKING FOLLOW UP.
HLA gene test positive is indicative for an autoimmune disorder. Crohn's disease is one of them.
IBD Serology antibodies are blood tests:
AASCA Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ab, IgA
GASCA Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ab, IgG,
NSA Neutrophil Specific Antibodies
In my opinion, you should consult a pediatric gastroenterologist to perform these exams.
Wish her fast recovery!
DR.Klerida
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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