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What Causes Black Stool In A 13 Month Old Infant?
Question: My son is doing normal, he is 13 months old. From last 7-8 weeks, he is passing stool in black colour. He is regular in passing stool, at least once a day. Doctor suggested occult blood test for stool which did not shown any anomaly. Doctor has prescribed zanocin and metrogyl medicines. This did not reduce the problem. Please suggest.
Brief Answer:
I need more information - please get back with answers
Detailed Answer:
Hi....I understand your concern. occult blood being negative is a good thing - this means the black color is not due to blood as such in the stools.
I have a few questions for you -
1. Are you using any iron supplements or iron containing medicines for the kid?
2. Are you giving him any ayurvedic preparation as a tonic?
3. Are you giving him iron rich foods?
4. Is the stool always black or intermittently black?
5. Is the kid having pain while passing stools?
6. Are the stools hard in consistency or soft?
7. Can yo please upload an image of his stools when he passes next time?
Please get back to me with answers and I will be glad to guide you further.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
I need more information - please get back with answers
Detailed Answer:
Hi....I understand your concern. occult blood being negative is a good thing - this means the black color is not due to blood as such in the stools.
I have a few questions for you -
1. Are you using any iron supplements or iron containing medicines for the kid?
2. Are you giving him any ayurvedic preparation as a tonic?
3. Are you giving him iron rich foods?
4. Is the stool always black or intermittently black?
5. Is the kid having pain while passing stools?
6. Are the stools hard in consistency or soft?
7. Can yo please upload an image of his stools when he passes next time?
Please get back to me with answers and I will be glad to guide you further.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Hi XXXXXXX
Answers to your questions
1. Are you using any iron supplements or iron containing medicines for the kid?
Kid is given B-well supplement, once in 3 days.
2. Are you giving him any ayurvedic preparation as a tonic?
No.
3. Are you giving him iron rich foods?
He is taking Isomil 3 times, nestum 2 times and rice one time.
4. Is the stool always black or intermittently black?
Color is not exactly black, it is close to green. Sometimes passes in yellow color also.
5. Is the kid having pain while passing stools?
No.
6. Are the stools hard in consistency or soft?
Not consistently hard. He sometimes had loose motion also in this duration of 7-8 weeks. Keeping that apart also, they are not hard in consistency.
7. Can yo please upload an image of his stools when he passes next time?
Do not have a picture as of now.
Answers to your questions
1. Are you using any iron supplements or iron containing medicines for the kid?
Kid is given B-well supplement, once in 3 days.
2. Are you giving him any ayurvedic preparation as a tonic?
No.
3. Are you giving him iron rich foods?
He is taking Isomil 3 times, nestum 2 times and rice one time.
4. Is the stool always black or intermittently black?
Color is not exactly black, it is close to green. Sometimes passes in yellow color also.
5. Is the kid having pain while passing stools?
No.
6. Are the stools hard in consistency or soft?
Not consistently hard. He sometimes had loose motion also in this duration of 7-8 weeks. Keeping that apart also, they are not hard in consistency.
7. Can yo please upload an image of his stools when he passes next time?
Do not have a picture as of now.
Brief Answer:
This is normal - physiological - stop all medicines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.... thank you for getting back to me with relevant answers for my questions. Your kid is having a normal motion. Dark green colour in the motion is normal and physiological in this age group. Nothing to worry. This does not require any treatment as this is not a disease. Please stop all the antibiotics and medication which you are giving now.
Motion can be green in colour. Vomiting should not be green.
Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
This is normal - physiological - stop all medicines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.... thank you for getting back to me with relevant answers for my questions. Your kid is having a normal motion. Dark green colour in the motion is normal and physiological in this age group. Nothing to worry. This does not require any treatment as this is not a disease. Please stop all the antibiotics and medication which you are giving now.
Motion can be green in colour. Vomiting should not be green.
Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
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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