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Suggest Treatment For Alternating Diarrhea And Constipation
Question: my grandson was seen in dr office Friday for diarrhea and blood in stools. They have him scheduled of endoscopy and colonoscopy Wednesday this week, but this morning he is constipated. What would cause it to change from diarrhea to constipation?
Brief Answer:
It can be IBS or IBD
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible.
First of all, it is sad to know what your grandson had to go through. Based on the history you have shared, it can be resolving acute gastrentritis or amoebic dysentery which may present with blood and mucous in loose stools and may follow a period of slight constipation for few days as most of the Gut empties during acute phase due to loose motions.
However if the history is long term for alternating constipation and loose motions, it suggest or favors the inflammatory bowel syndrome and also does his age favor this. But usually Inflammatory bowel syndrome doesn't present woth blood in stools so possibility of underlying infective or autoimmune process like inflammatory bowel disease has to be considered and that is one of the reasons he is undergoing colonoscopy and endoscopy so I would suggest to go with the plan.
For constipation he can use stool softeners and a detailed review and close liason with a gastroentrologist seems mandatory.
Wishing him a quick recovery. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
It can be IBS or IBD
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible.
First of all, it is sad to know what your grandson had to go through. Based on the history you have shared, it can be resolving acute gastrentritis or amoebic dysentery which may present with blood and mucous in loose stools and may follow a period of slight constipation for few days as most of the Gut empties during acute phase due to loose motions.
However if the history is long term for alternating constipation and loose motions, it suggest or favors the inflammatory bowel syndrome and also does his age favor this. But usually Inflammatory bowel syndrome doesn't present woth blood in stools so possibility of underlying infective or autoimmune process like inflammatory bowel disease has to be considered and that is one of the reasons he is undergoing colonoscopy and endoscopy so I would suggest to go with the plan.
For constipation he can use stool softeners and a detailed review and close liason with a gastroentrologist seems mandatory.
Wishing him a quick recovery. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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