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Is Walamycin Safe For An Infant?
Question: Hi,
My son is 4.5 months now and he is completely on breastfeeding. Since 6 days he is have green stools with mucus and very watery. we waited for the stool to get normal on its own. however, its still the same and the color of the mucus is turning from white to brown. the stool frequency 2 days back was 10 times a day.. now its reduced to 5 times a day however the stool still remains mucusy and green watery. He was about to get the rotavirus 2nd vaccine today. however doctor gave him OFM Suspension and rinifol syrup 2.5 ml each twice a day for 4 days and have asked us to come after that for vaccination. we have also given his stool for stool test just to check for allergy or infections. we will get the report tomorrow. I had contacted you 2 months back regarding the same problem. At that time my doctor had asked me to give wallamycin 2.5 ml thrice a day for 3 days. i had completed the course for the same. My question is whether i should give him the antibiotic course now or should wait for the stool test report. is it safe and necessary to give antibiotics to child at this age. the rotavirus vaccination needs to be given after he is fine. Please advise at the earliest.
My son is 4.5 months now and he is completely on breastfeeding. Since 6 days he is have green stools with mucus and very watery. we waited for the stool to get normal on its own. however, its still the same and the color of the mucus is turning from white to brown. the stool frequency 2 days back was 10 times a day.. now its reduced to 5 times a day however the stool still remains mucusy and green watery. He was about to get the rotavirus 2nd vaccine today. however doctor gave him OFM Suspension and rinifol syrup 2.5 ml each twice a day for 4 days and have asked us to come after that for vaccination. we have also given his stool for stool test just to check for allergy or infections. we will get the report tomorrow. I had contacted you 2 months back regarding the same problem. At that time my doctor had asked me to give wallamycin 2.5 ml thrice a day for 3 days. i had completed the course for the same. My question is whether i should give him the antibiotic course now or should wait for the stool test report. is it safe and necessary to give antibiotics to child at this age. the rotavirus vaccination needs to be given after he is fine. Please advise at the earliest.
Brief Answer:
I do not think that antibiotics are required. Wait for the reports.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for choosing to ask me specifically on HealthcareMagic. I am glad to know that the child is exclusively breast fed. I have gone through the details and still feel that it is not concerning so long as the child is active and fine. Passing stool 10 times a day for a 4.5 month child is absolutely normal and does not indicate any infection. I would not worry even if the child is passing greenish and watery stools. All I would have suggested is to give breast feeding in increased amounts. But if you have started OFM, you must complete the course in order to avoid development of antibiotic resistance. But you if you have not yet started it, I do not feel it to be required but will leave it to your choice. I think that you can wait for the stool reports and unless the stool reports shows a high pus cell count (which indicates a bacterial infection), you need not give the antibiotic at all. Earlier I had felt Walamycin to be unnecessary as well. Replenishment of the lost water and salts is the mainstay of treatment in case a child has diarrhea. Treatment is not supposed to bring down the frequency of passage of loose stools. ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) may be given alongside breast feeding if necessary. But in any case, if pathogenic, such episodes are caused by certain viruses and antibiotics have no role to play there. The antibiotic is safe but unnecessary.
Rotaviral vaccine is good to be given and you should complete the course.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
I do not think that antibiotics are required. Wait for the reports.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for choosing to ask me specifically on HealthcareMagic. I am glad to know that the child is exclusively breast fed. I have gone through the details and still feel that it is not concerning so long as the child is active and fine. Passing stool 10 times a day for a 4.5 month child is absolutely normal and does not indicate any infection. I would not worry even if the child is passing greenish and watery stools. All I would have suggested is to give breast feeding in increased amounts. But if you have started OFM, you must complete the course in order to avoid development of antibiotic resistance. But you if you have not yet started it, I do not feel it to be required but will leave it to your choice. I think that you can wait for the stool reports and unless the stool reports shows a high pus cell count (which indicates a bacterial infection), you need not give the antibiotic at all. Earlier I had felt Walamycin to be unnecessary as well. Replenishment of the lost water and salts is the mainstay of treatment in case a child has diarrhea. Treatment is not supposed to bring down the frequency of passage of loose stools. ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) may be given alongside breast feeding if necessary. But in any case, if pathogenic, such episodes are caused by certain viruses and antibiotics have no role to play there. The antibiotic is safe but unnecessary.
Rotaviral vaccine is good to be given and you should complete the course.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your advise. regarding infections if the stool result shows high pus cell count then should i give the prescribed antibiotic? As you had mentioned these infections arent caused by bacteria but virus and hence antibiotics(i assume antibiotics are for bacterial infections) arent useful. So what is the cure for viral infections? Also for rotavirus vaccine, how long should we wait for vaccination in case the diarrhea doesnt clear. is it safe to give the vaccine while having diarrhea.
Brief Answer:
A raised pus cell count indicates a bacterial infection
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
In case the stool shows a pus cell count more than 8-10/hpf would be an indication for giving antibiotics since a raised pus cell count indicates a bacterial infection instead. In case of a viral infection, the pus cell count would not be raised. Viral infections are self limiting and do not require treatment. They subside on their own in 3-7 days. The present dose of rotavirus vaccine would not provide protection in case of an ongoing infection. It will take at least 3 weeks for the immunity to appear. I do not consider the present episode as diarrhea and would consider it within normal limits. So unless the pus cell count comes high, you need not wait and can proceed with the vaccination as scheduled. The vaccine is safe and you need not worry.
Regards
A raised pus cell count indicates a bacterial infection
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
In case the stool shows a pus cell count more than 8-10/hpf would be an indication for giving antibiotics since a raised pus cell count indicates a bacterial infection instead. In case of a viral infection, the pus cell count would not be raised. Viral infections are self limiting and do not require treatment. They subside on their own in 3-7 days. The present dose of rotavirus vaccine would not provide protection in case of an ongoing infection. It will take at least 3 weeks for the immunity to appear. I do not consider the present episode as diarrhea and would consider it within normal limits. So unless the pus cell count comes high, you need not wait and can proceed with the vaccination as scheduled. The vaccine is safe and you need not worry.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor,
We received the stool report for my son today. here are the details:
Mucus- present
colour - yellow
consistency - loose
occult blood - trace
reducing substances - Present+
pus cells - 8-10/hpf
epithelial cells- 1-2/hpf
red blood cells- 1-2/hpf
Please let us know whether we should start the OFM suspension. Our doctor has asked us to give the antibiotic for 5 days now.
Please advise at the earliest.
We received the stool report for my son today. here are the details:
Mucus- present
colour - yellow
consistency - loose
occult blood - trace
reducing substances - Present+
pus cells - 8-10/hpf
epithelial cells- 1-2/hpf
red blood cells- 1-2/hpf
Please let us know whether we should start the OFM suspension. Our doctor has asked us to give the antibiotic for 5 days now.
Please advise at the earliest.
Brief Answer:
I do not think that antibiotics are required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sharing the reports.
I have gone through the report. Let me assure you that I would not be worried with this sort of pus cell count. Moreover, unless associated with bloody diarrhea even the bacterial infections are self containing and get controlled in 3-5 days irrespective of the use of antibiotics. I do not think antibiotics to be required although many doctors prescribe antibiotics just to be on the safer side. Antibiotics would not reduce the frequency of passage of stool and it will continue for next few days anyway. The mainstay of treatment would be breast milk and ORS. I do not think any other intervention is required. I would not worry about the reducing substances in stool if the child is on breast milk.
Just watch out for the signs of lethargic. In case the child becomes lethargic or has a reduced urinary frequency, you should start the antibiotic and visit the doctor.
Regards
I do not think that antibiotics are required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for sharing the reports.
I have gone through the report. Let me assure you that I would not be worried with this sort of pus cell count. Moreover, unless associated with bloody diarrhea even the bacterial infections are self containing and get controlled in 3-5 days irrespective of the use of antibiotics. I do not think antibiotics to be required although many doctors prescribe antibiotics just to be on the safer side. Antibiotics would not reduce the frequency of passage of stool and it will continue for next few days anyway. The mainstay of treatment would be breast milk and ORS. I do not think any other intervention is required. I would not worry about the reducing substances in stool if the child is on breast milk.
Just watch out for the signs of lethargic. In case the child becomes lethargic or has a reduced urinary frequency, you should start the antibiotic and visit the doctor.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor,
We have started the antibiotic since he seemed to be tired and had stomach pain since yesterday. Will let u know the progress.
We have started the antibiotic since he seemed to be tired and had stomach pain since yesterday. Will let u know the progress.
Brief Answer:
I understand the cause of your apprehension
Detailed Answer:
Its a fine decision that you have taken based on your observation and I have no issues with the same. I would hope that your child is back to health soon.
Regards
I understand the cause of your apprehension
Detailed Answer:
Its a fine decision that you have taken based on your observation and I have no issues with the same. I would hope that your child is back to health soon.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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