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What Causes Pale White Coloured Stool And Diarrhea?

Posted on Wed, 7 Jan 2015

Question: My 5 year old has had pale white colored stool and diarrhea that floats , excessive sleepiness, cries in pain over stomach cramping and then promptly falls asleep. The pain comes and goes. No fever, no vomiting. We were sent home from the ER with stomach bug pending the stool sample that would take 2 days for diagnosis and a prescription for zofran. Xray negative, flu tests negative. Urine test showed slightly higher ketones likely because she hadnt been eating but that she was still doing a good job staying hydrated so no IV was needed. She literally screams in pain while passing stool. Is this normal or do i need to take her back in?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Bacterial dysentery

Detailed Answer:
Hi....a five year old with these symptoms is suggestive of bacillary or bacterial dysentery. She needs to be well hydrated and passing urine well. She needs antibiotic too, which has not been started.
Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.
But if you feel these are there, she's getting dehydrated gradually. When they checked in ER she might have been well. But now I suggest you to take her back to emergency room.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (4 minutes later)

she is passing urine well, but she is excessively sleepy. screaming in pain from stomach cramping and then 30 seconds later sound asleep, like the pain was too much she just wants to sleep. and now she is complaining of leg cramps, so i have been giving her lots of Gatorade. she doesnt have any dark circles under her eyes, no dry lips, and no fever. we live 45 min away from the closest ER and she is asleep right now not in any pain so I hate to take her all the way in if they are only going to tell me the same thing.

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
She needs antibiotics

Detailed Answer:
Hi...I know if she's not dehydrated they will send you back home. But this crampiness and crying before stools is classical of bacterial infection. I am not asking you to take her to get admitted. She needs antibiotics and they are prescription drugs. That's why I am asking you to go.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar