Suggest Treatment For Severe Abdominal Pain And Pale Stools

Posted on Mon, 22 May 2017

Question: Hi, my daughter is 5.6 year old and since Friday, we are observing a loss of appetite and she has been passing motions which which are whitish in colour. She has also been complaining of stomach pain once in a while and is a bit tired. Earlier last week on 25th April, around 3:30am she had vomitting, which was due to over eating, she had multiple vomits through the whole of 25th May, but that just stopped without any medications, and then the rest of the week until 28th April she was fine. Today 30th April, she didnt have proper lunch and dinner. She passed motion twice today, the morning after noon motion was pale yellow but the night motion (an hour back) was whitish in colour. I called up my pediatrician and he has asked to get a routine stool test done, which we will get done XXXXXXX I checked her eyes, and her nails, they are NOT yellowish in colour. Also, I wanted to ask you the right method to collect stool sample. How should I go about collecting the stool sample? I will go and get a collection box from a lab close to my home.

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Gallbladder problems or worms should be ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM

I have gone through your query. whitish stools are usually due to absence of bile in gastrointestinal react. This can occur due to obstruction in bile flow. Gallbladder problems or presence of worms can cause this.
Stool routine examination- you can take a sample bottle from lab and put a portion of stool in the bottle. I would recommend stool culture also.
You should also check her bilirubin levels and ultrasound examination of abdomen if necessary.

Give fluids and electrolytes according to loss. ORS and tender coconut water is good for this. You can also give bananas yogurt or curd.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (37 minutes later)

How should i collect the stool? We have a western comode at home. Does the bilirubin test requires blood test?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It is not possible to collect from western comode.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up query.

It is not possible to collect from western comode. You can give her potty to pass stool or pass stool on tissue paper and then transfer it to sample bottle.
For bilirubin test you need to give blood sample.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana