What Causes Leukocytes In Stool?

Posted on Thu, 6 Aug 2015

Question: What could it mean if my son's stool sample tested positive for fecal leukocytes, but was negative for salmonella, shiagella, campylobacter, and e.coli? There is also blood in his stool. He's been having diarrhea everyday for 9 days now with no fever or vomiting.

Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Blood in stool could be because of intestinal infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,

Generally,leukocytes are not seen in stools in the absence of infection or other inflammatory processes.

Fecal leukocytes could be as a response to infection with microorganisms that invade tissue or produce toxins.

As you said that your child is suffering from diarrhoea. Here I would like to ask,

Is he having watery stools?
What is the frequency of the stool in a day?
Is there any mucus?

Blood in stool could be because of this infection of intestinal mucosa (bacterial, viral or protozoal) or some local problem (anal fissure) which can be diagnosed by clinical examination.

Here,your child would require routine blood count,ESR, stool examination for ova/cyst (if not done earlier),stool culture to detect the underlying cause.

You should see some local doctor who will know about the tests and start appropriate antibiotics ,antiprotozoals (for deworming) with other supportive treatment.

Hope this will help you and kindly get back to me with more information.

Regards,

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

Follow up: Dr. Sandip Kabra (3 hours later)

His stools are not extremely watery, but theyvare slightly more watery than usual. He's having diarhea around 10 times a day. There has been mucus abd streaks of blood on and off for the past 10 days. In between his episodes of diarrhea he acts completely normal and happy. Ive attached a copy of his bloodwork. Could this possibly be a milk allergy?

Answered by Dr. Sandip Kabra (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Viral diarrhoea.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow-up.

From the blood reports,most likely your son is having viral diarrhoea.It could also be related to milk (lactose intolerance) but chances of viral infection is more as he is also having blood in stool.

Here, I would advice you to see physician who will know about the medications used to treat viral diarrhoea (antibiotics to prevent superinfection,prebiotics, probiotics with other symptommatic treatment).

Hope this information will help you.

Regards,

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

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