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What Causes Green Colored Stool In A Baby?
Question: My baby is 3.5 month and breast feeding baby.From.last one month he is doing green poo.amikacon n.metronidazole iv has done.still freq minimised but not the problem.recent stool culture found e coli bacteria.now l zo and metronidazole given.from last one month he has np wt gain.plz help.
Brief Answer:
Greenish stools are normal in a baby of this age. No need to worry.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure you that in case of a breast fed baby of this age, green stools are absolutely normal and not a cause to worry about. It is caused due to rapid transit of the fecal matter through the large intestines and the bile pigments do not get adequate time to get converted to yellow coloured pigment of stool. Moreover, passing stool 10 times is equally normal as passing stool once in 10 days and in neither case there is a cause to worry. E.coli is a bacteria that is found in the intestines of practically ALL individuals including children of this age. Presence of E. coli in stool does not indicate any infection. Although antibiotics have been prescribed, I do not think that they were essential. However, if antibiotics are begun, you should complete the course.
About weight gain of a child, generally the birth weight doubles by 5 months of age. If that seems to be on the way, your baby is gaining weight properly. If that does not seem to be the case, you would need to measure the weight serially at an interval of 3 months and your pediatrician can plot it on a growth chart to evaluate if the growth is proper.
If you continue breast feeding exclusively, I do not think that you would have anything to worry about.
Hope that helps.
In case you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Greenish stools are normal in a baby of this age. No need to worry.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure you that in case of a breast fed baby of this age, green stools are absolutely normal and not a cause to worry about. It is caused due to rapid transit of the fecal matter through the large intestines and the bile pigments do not get adequate time to get converted to yellow coloured pigment of stool. Moreover, passing stool 10 times is equally normal as passing stool once in 10 days and in neither case there is a cause to worry. E.coli is a bacteria that is found in the intestines of practically ALL individuals including children of this age. Presence of E. coli in stool does not indicate any infection. Although antibiotics have been prescribed, I do not think that they were essential. However, if antibiotics are begun, you should complete the course.
About weight gain of a child, generally the birth weight doubles by 5 months of age. If that seems to be on the way, your baby is gaining weight properly. If that does not seem to be the case, you would need to measure the weight serially at an interval of 3 months and your pediatrician can plot it on a growth chart to evaluate if the growth is proper.
If you continue breast feeding exclusively, I do not think that you would have anything to worry about.
Hope that helps.
In case you found my answer to be helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
According to my 5 th feb stool test there is no resistance substance issue but latest report said he has resistant substance ++.doc advised soy milk.but baby only happy with brst feed.what will do?n what will d for his proper weight gain?
Brief Answer:
I will strongly oppose giving up breast feeding.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Although in lactose intolerance, reducing substances are present in stool, it does not necessarily mean that presence of reducing substances in stool is synonymous with lactose intolerance. If undigested milk remains in the gastrointestinal tract, bacterial degenration will automatically produce reducing substances. I would not consider it as a valid ground to give up breast feeding. Many doctors have this improper practice of suggesting soy milk whenever they see reducing substances in stool of an infant. I would strongly oppose giving up breast milk for such a reason. About the weight gain, I have already inisisted you not to jump to conclusions and to go for serial weight charting. If the gain in weight does not seem to be appreciable, measures can be taken accordingly.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
I will strongly oppose giving up breast feeding.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Although in lactose intolerance, reducing substances are present in stool, it does not necessarily mean that presence of reducing substances in stool is synonymous with lactose intolerance. If undigested milk remains in the gastrointestinal tract, bacterial degenration will automatically produce reducing substances. I would not consider it as a valid ground to give up breast feeding. Many doctors have this improper practice of suggesting soy milk whenever they see reducing substances in stool of an infant. I would strongly oppose giving up breast milk for such a reason. About the weight gain, I have already inisisted you not to jump to conclusions and to go for serial weight charting. If the gain in weight does not seem to be appreciable, measures can be taken accordingly.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1si month 400gm,2nd month 1200 gm,then 500 gm in one in half month...plz answer doc.
Brief Answer:
More details required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. But I could not understand what you have mentioned. Have you mentioned the gain in weight? It is not quite clear.
You need to mention:
* The birth weight
* Whether the baby was born preterm. If so, how early.
* The subsequent weights and corresponding age.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
More details required
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. But I could not understand what you have mentioned. Have you mentioned the gain in weight? It is not quite clear.
You need to mention:
* The birth weight
* Whether the baby was born preterm. If so, how early.
* The subsequent weights and corresponding age.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Yes doc he was born 35 wk n 6 days.@2.9 kg.now he is 4.7 kg.
Brief Answer:
Weight gain is absolutely fine.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I have gone through the details mentioned. Firstly, when you calculate the age, be sure to deduct 2 weeks from the age to arrive at the corrected gestational age. So, I would assume it to be 3 months instead of 3.5 months. For a child of this age, the weight gain has been absolutely fine. In much less than 5 months, the weight has almost doubled. So, you need not worry. It is progressing absolutely fine.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Weight gain is absolutely fine.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I have gone through the details mentioned. Firstly, when you calculate the age, be sure to deduct 2 weeks from the age to arrive at the corrected gestational age. So, I would assume it to be 3 months instead of 3.5 months. For a child of this age, the weight gain has been absolutely fine. In much less than 5 months, the weight has almost doubled. So, you need not worry. It is progressing absolutely fine.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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