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What Does Blood In Stool Indicate?
Question: My 71 days old daughter shows blood and mucus in stool from her 45 th day. She is on formua due to inadequate breast milk. Doctor prescribed taxim o drops for one week, and when she was on that drops, she passed normal stool. When the dosage completed, again bloody stool. She is happy and gaining weight. Pls help doc. How can i get rid of this bloody stool?
Brief Answer:
Could be cows milk protein allergy/ bottle feeding
Detailed Answer:
Hi...it could be cows milk protein allergy or bacillary dysentery due to improper feeding bottles.
I have a few questions for you -
1. What is her birth weight and current weight?
2. Is there any skin rash on cheeks or front of elbows and back of knees and front of neck?
3. Was there any vomiting at any point of time?
4. Are you using bottle feeding?
5. Was there any fever during this blood mixed stools episode?
6. Is there any family history of any sort of allergy or asthma?
Get back with answers and I will be glad to help you out.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Could be cows milk protein allergy/ bottle feeding
Detailed Answer:
Hi...it could be cows milk protein allergy or bacillary dysentery due to improper feeding bottles.
I have a few questions for you -
1. What is her birth weight and current weight?
2. Is there any skin rash on cheeks or front of elbows and back of knees and front of neck?
3. Was there any vomiting at any point of time?
4. Are you using bottle feeding?
5. Was there any fever during this blood mixed stools episode?
6. Is there any family history of any sort of allergy or asthma?
Get back with answers and I will be glad to help you out.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Her birth weight was 3.1 kg. When we weighted her last week, it was 4.6 kgs. Yes we are bottle feeding her. And had a stool culture. Report said there is a heavy growth of e.coli. She never had fever or vomiting
We arebusing good quality bpa free bottles, and for each feed proper washing and sterilisation is done. The formula we use is nan pro1. No skin rash and.no family history of allergy.
We arebusing good quality bpa free bottles, and for each feed proper washing and sterilisation is done. The formula we use is nan pro1. No skin rash and.no family history of allergy.
Brief Answer:
Stop bottle feeding - consider CMPA
Detailed Answer:
Hi....there are 2 issues in your kid.
1. She could be having bacillary dysentery due to bottle feeding. However well we sterilize the bottles, sometimes infection creeps in unfortunately. So advice you to stop bottle feeding and feed her with spoon or paladey. Heavy growth of E.coli doesn't mean anything because its a normal commensal organism found in any human gut. Please do not get bothered by it.
2. It could still be cow's milk protein allergy (Cow's Milk Protein Allergy - CMPA) though there are no tell tale signs of allergy like cheek or skin rash. But blood in stools in a formula fed kid in the absence of fever favours it. If this is the case the only treatment is giving a lactose free formula like Zerolac at appropriate dilution. I am suggesting this because your daughter is predominantly on formula feeds.
If even occasionally your wife is feeding your daughter, she needs to go off all milk and milk products even biscuits etc.
Please discuss both these possibilities with your family pediatrician and take a call. If I were your pediatrician I would consider doing a blood test called Cow's milk specific IgE for your kid. Till the result is available I would consider doing both the above what I suggest.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Stop bottle feeding - consider CMPA
Detailed Answer:
Hi....there are 2 issues in your kid.
1. She could be having bacillary dysentery due to bottle feeding. However well we sterilize the bottles, sometimes infection creeps in unfortunately. So advice you to stop bottle feeding and feed her with spoon or paladey. Heavy growth of E.coli doesn't mean anything because its a normal commensal organism found in any human gut. Please do not get bothered by it.
2. It could still be cow's milk protein allergy (Cow's Milk Protein Allergy - CMPA) though there are no tell tale signs of allergy like cheek or skin rash. But blood in stools in a formula fed kid in the absence of fever favours it. If this is the case the only treatment is giving a lactose free formula like Zerolac at appropriate dilution. I am suggesting this because your daughter is predominantly on formula feeds.
If even occasionally your wife is feeding your daughter, she needs to go off all milk and milk products even biscuits etc.
Please discuss both these possibilities with your family pediatrician and take a call. If I were your pediatrician I would consider doing a blood test called Cow's milk specific IgE for your kid. Till the result is available I would consider doing both the above what I suggest.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank u doc. When we found blood in stool, we tried to stop bottle feeding and switch to paladey, but unfortunately it didnt work because baby rejects it and cries for bottle. When we consulted our ped, she said it will get cured by its own.i want to know whether it is a dangerous situation, becoz even antibiotic (taxim o)didnt help. Will it get cured by itself?
Brief Answer:
I know its difficult but it has to be tried
Detailed Answer:
Hi...like any habit which should be quit bottle feeding too will take some time. 45 days is too early to form a habit. Please try to understand...rather than the stress of groping in the dark as to why the baby having blood in the stools, if we can quit the habit and make her accustomed to spoon or paladey feeding, and the blood in the stools stops, we can know for sure what was the problem.
I know its difficult stop, initially due to refusal the baby may even lose some weight also, but still it is the best for the baby after she gets accustomed for the spoon or paladey.
Please see the World Health Organization website about bottle feeding - as to what it says.
Another issue is to think about the CMPA part I told too. I hope you will take a call on this after discussing with you paediatrician.
I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below.
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696
I know its difficult but it has to be tried
Detailed Answer:
Hi...like any habit which should be quit bottle feeding too will take some time. 45 days is too early to form a habit. Please try to understand...rather than the stress of groping in the dark as to why the baby having blood in the stools, if we can quit the habit and make her accustomed to spoon or paladey feeding, and the blood in the stools stops, we can know for sure what was the problem.
I know its difficult stop, initially due to refusal the baby may even lose some weight also, but still it is the best for the baby after she gets accustomed for the spoon or paladey.
Please see the World Health Organization website about bottle feeding - as to what it says.
Another issue is to think about the CMPA part I told too. I hope you will take a call on this after discussing with you paediatrician.
I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Please find the link below.
www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696
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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