Infant with occult blood in stool, Zinc suspension - Online Doctor Chats
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User : Hello Doctor, My 3 month old baby boy is having loose motions since yesterday. A stool examination revealed occult blood.Pus cells 2-3 hpf, erythrocytes 6-8 hpf. The doctor prescribed Z&D zinc dry powder suspension.Is this sufficient to control loose motion? Can I feed him Electrolyte?
Doctor : Hi
User : Hello Doctor
Doctor : How many episodes of loose stool did he have today?
User : After each feed he has been having loose motions. Probably 7 times
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Is he having other symptoms such as vomiting or fever?
User : He had fever yesterday.Then it subsided on its own. No vomiting
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Is he actively playing or is he irritable?
Doctor : Is he feeding well without any problem?
Doctor : Is he passing urine normally?
User : He is also having a nappy rash and its painfuk for him. The doctor has prescribed Lycor ointment and asked us the apply petroleum gelly vaseline on the affected areas
User : He has been feeding ok. Urine is slightly less compared to other days.
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Let me explain to you.
Doctor : The stool report is insignificant except for the presence of small amounts of blood.
User : Ok
Doctor : This can happen during repeated episodes of loose stools.
Doctor : The zinc suspension is routinely used to improve body resistance.
Doctor : However in a infants, more than the infection, its dehydration that is more important.
Doctor : Hence you need to keep your son well hydrated with proper fluids.
Doctor : If he is feeding well, breast milk should take care of the hydration,
Doctor : however if you feel that he is not feeding well or if you feel that he is getting dehydrated
User : He has always been on formula feed. I could not breast feed him.How do I take care of the hydration
Doctor : you may start of with electrolytes and oral fluid supplements.
Doctor : By hydration, I meant replacing fluid lost via loose stools.
User : Ok. Got it. What oral supplements can I feed him?
Doctor : Since he is just 3 months of age now, any oral supplement that you give may not be well tolerated.
User : Ok
Doctor : you can give simple water mixed with a pinch of salt and some sugar.
User : What about electrolyte?
Doctor : Pinch of salt and sugar in a glass of water is almost equal to electrolyte powder mixed in the same quantity.
Doctor : Continue with his usual feed.
Doctor : Watch out for some symptoms such as
User : How much quantity of this mixture should be fed?
Doctor : refusal to feed, drowsiness, irritability,. sunken eyeballs, persistent vomiting, dry skin, absence of tears, dry tongue, inability to pass urine.
Doctor : These are signs of dehydration that you need to watch out for.
Doctor : Get back to your doctor if these symptoms appear.
Doctor : And as far as how much to feed.
Doctor : You may give him 5-10ml of the constituted water for every loose stools he takes.
Doctor : Alternatively you can feed him as much he tolerates.
Doctor : Nature has designed that your son will ask for more if he is getting dehydrated.
Doctor : So no need to worry.
User : Thank you, Doctor.
Doctor : The loose stool is expected to improve
Doctor : in a few days.
Doctor : Keep the area clean and dry.
Doctor : Keep the diapers changed as and when he passes stools
User : Ok. Should I get a stool culture done?
Doctor : to prevent rashes from increasing.
User : Ok
Doctor : If loose stools persists or if he develops other symptoms such as recurrent vomiting, fever report back to your doctor
Doctor : who may then suggest the stool culture test.
Doctor : Have you followed what I have suggested?
User : Yes, Doctor. Thank you very much
Doctor : My pleasure.
User : Have a great day!
Doctor : Thanks for consulting me.
Doctor : Bye for now.
User : Bye
Doctor : Hi
User : Hello Doctor
Doctor : How many episodes of loose stool did he have today?
User : After each feed he has been having loose motions. Probably 7 times
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Is he having other symptoms such as vomiting or fever?
User : He had fever yesterday.Then it subsided on its own. No vomiting
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Is he actively playing or is he irritable?
Doctor : Is he feeding well without any problem?
Doctor : Is he passing urine normally?
User : He is also having a nappy rash and its painfuk for him. The doctor has prescribed Lycor ointment and asked us the apply petroleum gelly vaseline on the affected areas
User : He has been feeding ok. Urine is slightly less compared to other days.
Doctor : Ok
Doctor : Let me explain to you.
Doctor : The stool report is insignificant except for the presence of small amounts of blood.
User : Ok
Doctor : This can happen during repeated episodes of loose stools.
Doctor : The zinc suspension is routinely used to improve body resistance.
Doctor : However in a infants, more than the infection, its dehydration that is more important.
Doctor : Hence you need to keep your son well hydrated with proper fluids.
Doctor : If he is feeding well, breast milk should take care of the hydration,
Doctor : however if you feel that he is not feeding well or if you feel that he is getting dehydrated
User : He has always been on formula feed. I could not breast feed him.How do I take care of the hydration
Doctor : you may start of with electrolytes and oral fluid supplements.
Doctor : By hydration, I meant replacing fluid lost via loose stools.
User : Ok. Got it. What oral supplements can I feed him?
Doctor : Since he is just 3 months of age now, any oral supplement that you give may not be well tolerated.
User : Ok
Doctor : you can give simple water mixed with a pinch of salt and some sugar.
User : What about electrolyte?
Doctor : Pinch of salt and sugar in a glass of water is almost equal to electrolyte powder mixed in the same quantity.
Doctor : Continue with his usual feed.
Doctor : Watch out for some symptoms such as
User : How much quantity of this mixture should be fed?
Doctor : refusal to feed, drowsiness, irritability,. sunken eyeballs, persistent vomiting, dry skin, absence of tears, dry tongue, inability to pass urine.
Doctor : These are signs of dehydration that you need to watch out for.
Doctor : Get back to your doctor if these symptoms appear.
Doctor : And as far as how much to feed.
Doctor : You may give him 5-10ml of the constituted water for every loose stools he takes.
Doctor : Alternatively you can feed him as much he tolerates.
Doctor : Nature has designed that your son will ask for more if he is getting dehydrated.
Doctor : So no need to worry.
User : Thank you, Doctor.
Doctor : The loose stool is expected to improve
Doctor : in a few days.
Doctor : Keep the area clean and dry.
Doctor : Keep the diapers changed as and when he passes stools
User : Ok. Should I get a stool culture done?
Doctor : to prevent rashes from increasing.
User : Ok
Doctor : If loose stools persists or if he develops other symptoms such as recurrent vomiting, fever report back to your doctor
Doctor : who may then suggest the stool culture test.
Doctor : Have you followed what I have suggested?
User : Yes, Doctor. Thank you very much
Doctor : My pleasure.
User : Have a great day!
Doctor : Thanks for consulting me.
Doctor : Bye for now.
User : Bye
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