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What Causes Greenish Stools In Infants?
Question: Hi, my son is 6 months old. Since 1 week he has loose motions. I consult pead, last week friday he passed around 20 times, due to this doctor suggested to give antiboitic injection for 3 days but we have taken for 1 day and we stopped further. Now, he is passing daily 6 times (sometimes the color is in green and sometimes normal) but he is always playfull and i don't see any diziness. Please suggest to make it normal
Brief Answer:
If you ever begin antibiotics, please care to complete the course.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure you that greenish stools are normal in a child of this age. It is caused due to rapid transit of fecal matter through the large intestines where it does not get adequate time for the bile pigments to convert into the yellow pigment of stool. It is not a cause of concern and does not need to be treated. Moreover, passing stool several times a day or even after each feed is normal too. May be 20 times is a bit high, but such diarrhoeal episodes are generally caused due to rotavirus and antibiotics are ineffective in providing relief. Unless the child grows lethargic or unless there is bloody diarrhoea, there is nothing to worry. The condition is self limiting and resolves in few days without the use of antibiotics. But if antibiotics have been started, you must complete the course in order to avoid development of antibiotic resistance. You have not done the right thing in stopping it.
The frequency of stools is not a cause of concern. Breast milk is the best possible feed for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Semisolids should be introduced and continued. ORS or oral rehydration solution should be given to prevent dehydration from developing.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
If you ever begin antibiotics, please care to complete the course.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure you that greenish stools are normal in a child of this age. It is caused due to rapid transit of fecal matter through the large intestines where it does not get adequate time for the bile pigments to convert into the yellow pigment of stool. It is not a cause of concern and does not need to be treated. Moreover, passing stool several times a day or even after each feed is normal too. May be 20 times is a bit high, but such diarrhoeal episodes are generally caused due to rotavirus and antibiotics are ineffective in providing relief. Unless the child grows lethargic or unless there is bloody diarrhoea, there is nothing to worry. The condition is self limiting and resolves in few days without the use of antibiotics. But if antibiotics have been started, you must complete the course in order to avoid development of antibiotic resistance. You have not done the right thing in stopping it.
The frequency of stools is not a cause of concern. Breast milk is the best possible feed for a baby and there can be no alternatives for the same. Semisolids should be introduced and continued. ORS or oral rehydration solution should be given to prevent dehydration from developing.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Rotarix vaccine has been given around 2 months and we are still waiting for second dose to given after this loose motions will completely stopped. Delaying rotarix vaccine causing this problem ? pls suggest on this .
Also, he is on breast feed since 1 month. We stopped antiboitics because doctor also suggested the frequency of motion has been come down and we are not encouraging the antibiotics at this stage ...
Also, he is on breast feed since 1 month. We stopped antiboitics because doctor also suggested the frequency of motion has been come down and we are not encouraging the antibiotics at this stage ...
Brief Answer:
You need to understand the way that things happen.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Rotarix may take some time to come into effect. I would not consider that to be a cause to worry about. Such infections can be contracted anyway and ORS is the mainstay of treatment. Rotarix does not make him prone to rotavirus. Eventually it will offer the protection.
I would encourage breast feeding. If you did not stand in favor, it should not have been started altogether. It is ok to stop the antibiotic, its just not a good practice to start or stop it like that.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
You need to understand the way that things happen.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Rotarix may take some time to come into effect. I would not consider that to be a cause to worry about. Such infections can be contracted anyway and ORS is the mainstay of treatment. Rotarix does not make him prone to rotavirus. Eventually it will offer the protection.
I would encourage breast feeding. If you did not stand in favor, it should not have been started altogether. It is ok to stop the antibiotic, its just not a good practice to start or stop it like that.
Regards
Dr. Diptanshu Das
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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