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Watery Greenish Stool In Child. Prescribed O2 Suspension. Is It Safe Medication?
Question: We are visiting India and our 6 year old is having liquid watery greenish stools (about 10-12/day) While we are attentive to his hydration status, we are concerned that this may be an infective process, since the frequency of bowel movements remains unchanged. A local family practioner prescribed O2 suspension 10 ml ( ofloxacin plus ornidazole) Is it safe to give it to a 6 year old ( approx 45 pounds)
Hello ,
Thanks for posting your query.
The O2 suspension contains ofloxacin & ornidazole combination frequently used in treating infective diarrhoea.
The safety of ofloxacin is not established in children by studies.
There is a risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture and damage to the growing bones and cartilage in children.Apart from this there may be a risk of allergic reaction if the child has allergy to sulfa drugs.The other minor sideeffects are nausea, bad metallic taste (ornidazole), headache, dizziness, liver and renal damage.
However all antibiotics do have some or the other sideeffects and its not that all children taking O2 do experience such sideeffects.So doctors do prescribe it weighing the risk benefit ratio.
In my practice I always start adequate supportive treatment for diarrhoea including oral rehydration solution, probiotics, zinc, bcomplex vitamins .Along with this I get a stool routine and culture test done if infection is suspected.If by three days the diarrhoea doesn't respond or culture confirms a bacterial infection then I advise appropriate antibiotics.Mostly cefixime, ofloxacin, metronidazole,colistin are the usual antibiotics used for infective diarrhoeas.
Now as per the information provided by you the indication and dosage seem to be appropriate for your child. But its not without risk of sideeffects so I would advise you consult a pediatrician and get him evaluated and tested before giving an antibiotic.Alternatively you may take the antibiotic as per prescription and watch for any sideeffects. If the child develops any nausea, vomiting, rash or muscle or bone pain you should stop the antibiotic and report to a doctor immediately.
Meanwhile please ensure that he is adequately hydrated (as you are already doing) for faster recovery.
Hope I have answered your query.
I am available for any follow up queries you have.
Regards
Thanks for posting your query.
The O2 suspension contains ofloxacin & ornidazole combination frequently used in treating infective diarrhoea.
The safety of ofloxacin is not established in children by studies.
There is a risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture and damage to the growing bones and cartilage in children.Apart from this there may be a risk of allergic reaction if the child has allergy to sulfa drugs.The other minor sideeffects are nausea, bad metallic taste (ornidazole), headache, dizziness, liver and renal damage.
However all antibiotics do have some or the other sideeffects and its not that all children taking O2 do experience such sideeffects.So doctors do prescribe it weighing the risk benefit ratio.
In my practice I always start adequate supportive treatment for diarrhoea including oral rehydration solution, probiotics, zinc, bcomplex vitamins .Along with this I get a stool routine and culture test done if infection is suspected.If by three days the diarrhoea doesn't respond or culture confirms a bacterial infection then I advise appropriate antibiotics.Mostly cefixime, ofloxacin, metronidazole,colistin are the usual antibiotics used for infective diarrhoeas.
Now as per the information provided by you the indication and dosage seem to be appropriate for your child. But its not without risk of sideeffects so I would advise you consult a pediatrician and get him evaluated and tested before giving an antibiotic.Alternatively you may take the antibiotic as per prescription and watch for any sideeffects. If the child develops any nausea, vomiting, rash or muscle or bone pain you should stop the antibiotic and report to a doctor immediately.
Meanwhile please ensure that he is adequately hydrated (as you are already doing) for faster recovery.
Hope I have answered your query.
I am available for any follow up queries you have.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr XXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your response. This is very helpful information. He was up all night with watery stools and belly ache(about 20 bowel movements in 24 hrs), so we went ahead and gave him the O2 suspension. We were giving him ORS after every bowel movement. He hasnt had a bowel movement in about 4 hrs now.
We are watching him for any signs of ofloxacin adverse effects. Does the dose of O2 suspension 10ml twice a day for 3 days sound reasonble to you? We are hoping to be able to take him to a pediatrician today.
Again, your excellent advice is very much appreciated.
Regards,
AS
Thank you very much for your response. This is very helpful information. He was up all night with watery stools and belly ache(about 20 bowel movements in 24 hrs), so we went ahead and gave him the O2 suspension. We were giving him ORS after every bowel movement. He hasnt had a bowel movement in about 4 hrs now.
We are watching him for any signs of ofloxacin adverse effects. Does the dose of O2 suspension 10ml twice a day for 3 days sound reasonble to you? We are hoping to be able to take him to a pediatrician today.
Again, your excellent advice is very much appreciated.
Regards,
AS
Hello AS,
Thanks for the follow up.
Yes, the dose is adequate and less likely to cause any harm to the child unless in rare cases of reaction to ofloxacin.
I appreciate your efforts as vigilant parents and it does seem to be a case of infection which has now responded to the antibiotic.
Do watch out for the progression of his symptoms or development of any sideeffects.
I hope he has a speedy recovery.
Regards
Thanks for the follow up.
Yes, the dose is adequate and less likely to cause any harm to the child unless in rare cases of reaction to ofloxacin.
I appreciate your efforts as vigilant parents and it does seem to be a case of infection which has now responded to the antibiotic.
Do watch out for the progression of his symptoms or development of any sideeffects.
I hope he has a speedy recovery.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr XXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your expert opinion. Our son is doing much better. We are very grateful for your informative and detailed responses.
Best,
AS
Thank you very much for your expert opinion. Our son is doing much better. We are very grateful for your informative and detailed responses.
Best,
AS
Hello AS ,
Thanks for the appreciation
It was my pleasure to be of any help to you.
I wish your son good health forever.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr Hema Yadav.
YYYY@YYYY
Thanks for the appreciation
It was my pleasure to be of any help to you.
I wish your son good health forever.
Take care.
Regards,
Dr Hema Yadav.
YYYY@YYYY
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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