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What Does My Stool Test Report Indicate?
Question: My baby is 3.5 months old, is exclusively breast fed and has been suffering from loose motion since 5 days. She used to pass out stools after every feed and her stools looked absolutely foamy,frothy and was loose. I took her to the doctor and was suggested Zirconia 2.5 ml once daily for 15 days. The very next day I witnessed greenish yellow loose stools. So took her to the doctor again and the doctor suggested a motion test. She does not have fever or vomiting or blood in stools. She is active and breast feeds as well. The report said : Colour: Greenish Colour; Appearance: Semi SOlid; Reaction: Alkaline; Blood: Nil; Pus Cells: 8 - 10/hpf; Rbc Cells: Nil/ hpf; Mucus: Present; Bacteria: (+++) Present . The doctor has prescribed Taxim O Syrup 2.5 ml twice for 5 days, Zinc powder 0.5 ml twice for 5 days along with electral for 15 days. She has taken 3 doses of antibiotic and zinc so far and after that her stools are dark green in colour and is still frothy and foamy and passes stools after every feed.
Kindly let me know if this is the right medication and how long it will take to subside. Also, why are her stools dark green after medication.
Kindly let me know if this is the right medication and how long it will take to subside. Also, why are her stools dark green after medication.
Brief Answer:
Don't worry, keep patience, medication is right
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Report suggests some gastrointestinal infection. Your physician has advised right medication as it includes antibiotic for infection, ORS powder to prevent dehydration and zinc for rapid recovery (as it helps in early normalization of inner gut wall).
During the illness there is loss of normal layer of inner gut wall which helps in absorption which usually regenerates in 7-8 days. Also there is increased gut motility, due to which there is less time for the process which gives normal color to the stool. As you have started the treatment, I hope it will normalize in next 3-5 days.
I will advise you to continue the feeds and also ORS to prevent dehydration. Watch for urine frequency and oral acceptance, if urine output decreases or oral acceptance decreases consult your physician.
Regards
Don't worry, keep patience, medication is right
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Report suggests some gastrointestinal infection. Your physician has advised right medication as it includes antibiotic for infection, ORS powder to prevent dehydration and zinc for rapid recovery (as it helps in early normalization of inner gut wall).
During the illness there is loss of normal layer of inner gut wall which helps in absorption which usually regenerates in 7-8 days. Also there is increased gut motility, due to which there is less time for the process which gives normal color to the stool. As you have started the treatment, I hope it will normalize in next 3-5 days.
I will advise you to continue the feeds and also ORS to prevent dehydration. Watch for urine frequency and oral acceptance, if urine output decreases or oral acceptance decreases consult your physician.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Hello Doctor. Thank you so much for your response.
I am really worried. Its day two of her antibiotics and she still continues to poop after feed. Now her poop still looks greenish and is curdled. I have attached the image for your reference.
Kindly advice.
I am really worried. Its day two of her antibiotics and she still continues to poop after feed. Now her poop still looks greenish and is curdled. I have attached the image for your reference.
Kindly advice.
Brief Answer:
Don't worry, continue the treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I can understand your concern. I have seen the image of stool which you have attached.It appears little slimy in consistency.
I would suggest you to continue the same treatment.The stool is semi formed, so chances of dehydration is less. You can add some probiotic after consulting your doctor. If the consistency and frequency remains same for next two days consult your physician. But I can assure you that there is very high chance that your baby will recover in next two days.
Regards
Don't worry, continue the treatment
Detailed Answer:
Hello
I can understand your concern. I have seen the image of stool which you have attached.It appears little slimy in consistency.
I would suggest you to continue the same treatment.The stool is semi formed, so chances of dehydration is less. You can add some probiotic after consulting your doctor. If the consistency and frequency remains same for next two days consult your physician. But I can assure you that there is very high chance that your baby will recover in next two days.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you so much doctor. Is there a chance that there will be a need for stool culture test. Will there be a case that the infection is caused by a specific kind of bacteria that is not effective for the current medication.
Kindly advice.
Kindly advice.
Brief Answer:
culture is not required right now
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanx for the query. My opinion is don't go for culture right now.Most of the enteric infections are due to gram negative bacteria and this antibiotic has a good coverage for these organisms.Already two days of antibiotic has been taken so chance of culture positivity is less now.Once again I will recommend you to continue this medication with a close observation and proper care of the baby.Most of the intestinal infection respond to this and I hope the same for your baby also.
Wish your baby an early recovery
Regards
culture is not required right now
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanx for the query. My opinion is don't go for culture right now.Most of the enteric infections are due to gram negative bacteria and this antibiotic has a good coverage for these organisms.Already two days of antibiotic has been taken so chance of culture positivity is less now.Once again I will recommend you to continue this medication with a close observation and proper care of the baby.Most of the intestinal infection respond to this and I hope the same for your baby also.
Wish your baby an early recovery
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hello Doctor.
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Her course of antibiotics (Taxim O) got over yesterday and now her stools have turned yellow. However, I witnessed watery (not very watery) stools almost after every feed in the day time. The quantity of stools has come down though. I repeated the stool test today and have attached report (Report 3) for your reference.
Her urine output and feeding is normal. Her activities are also normal.
I am extremely worried and requesting you to suggest appropriate medication as I am traveling with the baby for a week and unable to go to the clinic. Also wondering why the infection is still present even after 5 days of medication.
Thank you so much for your detailed response. Her course of antibiotics (Taxim O) got over yesterday and now her stools have turned yellow. However, I witnessed watery (not very watery) stools almost after every feed in the day time. The quantity of stools has come down though. I repeated the stool test today and have attached report (Report 3) for your reference.
Her urine output and feeding is normal. Her activities are also normal.
I am extremely worried and requesting you to suggest appropriate medication as I am traveling with the baby for a week and unable to go to the clinic. Also wondering why the infection is still present even after 5 days of medication.
Brief Answer:
No medication needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello madam
Sorry for delayed reply and thanks a lot for such a positive feedback.I am glad to know that your baby is doing well.
Don't go behind the reports. We doctors don't treat the reports, we treat the patients. Reports are just for additional information.
Even the advice for antibiotics was not for reports as bacteria may be present in normal stools too. For your information there are plenty of bacteria in normal human gut which are helpful. That may show false positive test of bacteria in stool. Even yeast are present there.
So if baby is doing well and consistency and frequency of stool has been improved, no need to worry. She does not need antibiotic any more. Continue zinc preparation for total 14 days, probiotics for next 3-4 days,maintain hygiene that's all.
I will be glad to answer your query in future also if you found my answer helpful.
Wish you happy journey.
Regards
No medication needed
Detailed Answer:
Hello madam
Sorry for delayed reply and thanks a lot for such a positive feedback.I am glad to know that your baby is doing well.
Don't go behind the reports. We doctors don't treat the reports, we treat the patients. Reports are just for additional information.
Even the advice for antibiotics was not for reports as bacteria may be present in normal stools too. For your information there are plenty of bacteria in normal human gut which are helpful. That may show false positive test of bacteria in stool. Even yeast are present there.
So if baby is doing well and consistency and frequency of stool has been improved, no need to worry. She does not need antibiotic any more. Continue zinc preparation for total 14 days, probiotics for next 3-4 days,maintain hygiene that's all.
I will be glad to answer your query in future also if you found my answer helpful.
Wish you happy journey.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Alright doctor. I would like to highlight that before she had this infection, She used to pass stools only once in two or three days. But even after the medication she passes stools almost after each feed in the day time. Night time she does not. Stools after certain feed is of decent quantity while some are a drop or two of stools. Should nt her stool pattern return to normal ? The report says mucus present and reducingsubstances present. Also, can i travel with the baby in the current condition.
It would be good if you can suggest a probiotic name and dosage that i can administer for my baby.
Doctor,
Also would like to add that I have attached an image of yesterday's stool of my baby for your reference. I could witness little froth as well in the stool.
I am not sure if I am unnecessarily getting worried but I am not used to seeing her pass stools so often, hence the concern.
Thanks in advance.
It would be good if you can suggest a probiotic name and dosage that i can administer for my baby.
Doctor,
Also would like to add that I have attached an image of yesterday's stool of my baby for your reference. I could witness little froth as well in the stool.
I am not sure if I am unnecessarily getting worried but I am not used to seeing her pass stools so often, hence the concern.
Thanks in advance.
Brief Answer:
Don't worry,keep patience for 2-3 more days
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for the query.Sometimes it takes more time to stool to get back to normal pattern.
There were some changes in gut and it recovers gradually.Mucus and reducing substance in stool is most likely due to the persistence of some gut abnormality which is recovering. A four plus or more reducing substance in stool is considered to be positive. There may be few?(1+,2+) reducing substance in normal stool also.
As your baby is breast fed,I don't want to discontinue that. As you also know that breast feeding is the best.
If there is 4+ reducing substance in stool then I would have been recommend you to discontinue breast feed for few days and to give some low lactose formula.But it is only 2+.
Another possibility is if she was not breast fed then I would have recommended for low lactose formula even if there is few reducing substance. But she is breast fed baby and there are always issues of infection from top feed.So again nothing to be done for reducing substance.
You can travel safely,but be cautious for proper breast feeding,maintaining good hygiene and also about your personal diet as baby is breast fed.
I am sorry to say but your reports does not seems to be reliable too.There are few printing mistake like yellow written in front of reducing substance with 2+.
Also it did not mention which organism like bacteria or parasites.You may repeat the report from a more reliable diagnostic centre.
A good lab technician always take care of this type of mistakes.
You can give her enterogermina one XXXXXXX bottle daily for 3-4 more days.
Looking for your further query if any.
Regards
Don't worry,keep patience for 2-3 more days
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for the query.Sometimes it takes more time to stool to get back to normal pattern.
There were some changes in gut and it recovers gradually.Mucus and reducing substance in stool is most likely due to the persistence of some gut abnormality which is recovering. A four plus or more reducing substance in stool is considered to be positive. There may be few?(1+,2+) reducing substance in normal stool also.
As your baby is breast fed,I don't want to discontinue that. As you also know that breast feeding is the best.
If there is 4+ reducing substance in stool then I would have been recommend you to discontinue breast feed for few days and to give some low lactose formula.But it is only 2+.
Another possibility is if she was not breast fed then I would have recommended for low lactose formula even if there is few reducing substance. But she is breast fed baby and there are always issues of infection from top feed.So again nothing to be done for reducing substance.
You can travel safely,but be cautious for proper breast feeding,maintaining good hygiene and also about your personal diet as baby is breast fed.
I am sorry to say but your reports does not seems to be reliable too.There are few printing mistake like yellow written in front of reducing substance with 2+.
Also it did not mention which organism like bacteria or parasites.You may repeat the report from a more reliable diagnostic centre.
A good lab technician always take care of this type of mistakes.
You can give her enterogermina one XXXXXXX bottle daily for 3-4 more days.
Looking for your further query if any.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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