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What Causes Abnormality In Stool Of A Child?

Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014

Question: Hello doctor My daughter is 7 month old now. I was exclusively breastfed her until 6 month after that I started her solids along with breastfeed. Until her 5 month she pooped once without constipation every other day. After 5 th month she pooped like 3 to 4 times a day. Often we found green color poop. then we started solid (rice cereal, banana,carrot purée, cerelac sometime) last month, she was normal for a week, ate very well. We travelled in 6 hr drive, end of the day she started diarrhea. It followed 2 days. Also had rashes on her anus. We consulted PED. He doubted lactose intolerance or milk allergy. In Stool test reducing substances negative and 4-5 pus cell were there. So no lact intol. He gave normigyl antibiotic suspension, lactogut and econorm probiotic for 3days. Watery stool stopped from next day. Then we continued our solid feed. Her poop comes out with undigested food often.also green color for sometime. Then the PED said she may have milk allergy. I avoided dairy from my diet. After 3 to 4 weeks she started the same episode now. She poop very often 5-6 times a day and it was semi solid full of undigested food. She will poop immediate after waking in the morning. Sometime it had constipated pebble poop. After that she poop watery which is greening yellow.. She pooping the morning solid feed with in 3 hr. Banana is coming out as it is. Pale white. The poop is always semisolid and not firm.This is happening from last Friday to till now.Is this again a diarrhea ? Is this because of milk allery? Or any infections? Rotavaccine 2 doses given before 6 month. I was totally not free from dairy. I are bread and ghee.Other than this undigested, frequent poop she was absolutely normal. No fever and vonitting. Usual crankiness and playing sleeping well. Main worry is greenish poop often and undigested poop. We are not sure about milk allergy. How did all of a sudden she will get allergic to milk. I'm consuming milk from her birth. Her weight gain for last month is from 7.8 to 8 kg. please help doctor. We are confused.Thanks for your time doctor

Answered by Dr. Arun (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer: several possibilities Detailed Answer: HI Thanks for writing to health care magic. From your description of your daughters condition i think the following would be my possibilities. 1. It could still be milk allergy Milk allergies need not manifest immediately . Usually presents at 6-9 months only. Try stopping your dairy products fully for a week and see the response. Cerelac too has milk. Try shifting to nestum cereal which does not contain milk You can get IGE cows milk protein tested for your baby to confirm diagnosis . But requires blood sample. 2. It could still be infection. Viruses other than rotavirus too cause diarrhea, which are usually mild. 3. Zinc deficiency If your baby is active and playful, no need to worry. No need for antibiotics. I would recommend 10mg zinc once a day for atleast 14 days for such babies in my clinic. Zinc shortens diarrhea duration and prevents repeated episodes. Make sure you keep her hydrated with frequent liquids including oral electrolyte solution like electral. Her weight is adequate. Wishing your baby speedy recovery. Regards DR XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Arun (2 hours later)

We have taken stool testrecently ad it shows ep cell ranges from 10-15. What does this mean? Is that related to current occuring diarrhea? Why food is not digested? What treatment is suitable for the baby for this condition?

Answered by Dr. Arun (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Intestinal wall cells Detailed Answer: Epithelial cells usually will be less than 5. In your baby it is high. It means the intestines are shedding the cells out. This could be due to allergy or infection. Yes it is related to your babys current illness. Food digestion needs intact intestinal epithelium which is affected in your baby. But do not worry. Recovery will happen soon. Usually it takes 2 to 3 weeks for new lining to get functional Treatment includes avoiding cerelac , milk any form. Give zinc as already explained . You can continue econorm for few more days too. Regards Dr Arun

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj