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Child 5 Month Had HERSHELEYS Dark Chocolate. Suffering From Dysentery. Passing Loose Stools After Meals. Help?

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Posted on Mon, 24 Jun 2013
Question: hi.. my baby is 5 months old.. she had taken a small amount of HERSHELEYS dark chocolate 4 days back. And from that day onwards she is having dysentry. It is not getting stopped till now. Whenever i feed her she is having loose stool. Please help me. I very much worried.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 hours later)
Hello XXXXXX
Thanks for your query.
Most infants experience bouts of diarrhea from time to time. Most times diarrhea does not cause any lasting harm to an infant. However, young infants around the age of five months should be closely monitored for dehydration when diarrhea occurs. Dehydration in infants can become serious if not treated effectively.

Infant diarrhea may indicate the presence of a viral or bacterial intestinal infection. Also, diarrhea may occur as a result of a food intolerance or food allergy. Please consult your paediatrician at the earliest for diarrhoea / dysentery which is lasting for the past 5 days.

When diarrhea occurs, you may eliminate dairy products and juice for a short time and offer either soy-based formula or an electrolyte solution until the diarrhea subsides. Breastfeeding mothers should continue to breastfeed normally. Some 5-month-old infants may be eating solids foods. In this case, you can continue to offer the infant bananas and rice cereal. Parents may also want to keep a chart detailing the number of stools along with a description of each and also note any other symptoms. This chart will be beneficial if a doctor evaluates the infant.

In young infants, diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may be serious. Vomiting along with diarrhea increases the risk of dehydration even more. Signs of dehydration include the absence of wet diapers, dry eyes, dry mouth and weight loss. Other signs that warrant a doctor's appointment include blood in the stools, unresponsiveness, lethargy, a fever higher than 101 degrees and continual crying.

An infant should never be given an anti-diarrheal medication, without consultation with your doctor. These medications may be harmful to infants.

Take care, and feel free to discuss further.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (11 hours later)
hi doctor. Thanks for ur reply. I have few more doubts. Whenever I feed my baby she has sometimes loose stool and sometime normal stool. How long will this dysentery last? I am very much worried whether that chocolate intake will cause any other serious problem in her. And one more thing her pediatrician said she has labial adhesion and once the dysentery get stopped , she has to under go a small surgery. what is that? Is that any serious problem. What is the reason for this labial adhesion? For the past 5 days i am having sleepless nights after hearing this term. Please help me doctor. Thanks in advance.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 hours later)
As I said, regarding the dysentery, you need to consult a paediatrician.
It generally resolves with proper treatment within a few days, but if unattended for too long, serious complications can arise.
Regarding labial adhesion, It means the inner lips of her vagina — her labia minora — have become stuck together. The area that's joined may be just a small section, or it may be extensive. In most cases it's nothing to worry about.

Some little girls just seem predisposed to it. Experts think adhesion happens when the labia become irritated and raw — possibly from wet or dirty diapers or scented detergent or soap — then fuse together as they heal. Estrogen also seems to play a role: Adhesion tends to develop at about 3 months, just after the estrogen a baby received at birth from Mom has tapered off. (The hormone affects the skin cells of the labia.)

In most cases, nothing needs to be done. Don't try to pull your daughter's labia apart: That could hurt, and the labia will probably just grow together again. Unless the adhesion is causing problems, it's best to leave it alone — in time, it usually goes away on its own.

If the adhesion extends to cover the opening of the urethra and is trapping urine in the genital area, it requires separation.

An estrogen cream is usually prescribed to treat the condition. Your doctor will tell you to apply this cream directly to the affected tissue, and in about two weeks — sometimes more, sometimes less — the labia should unseal.

Apply the cream with a cotton swab to the fusion line, and try not to get much on the surrounding tissues.

While your child's in diapers, be vigilant about making sure the diaper is dry. You might also apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly or baby salve after each diaper change to prevent irritation. Avoid scented soaps or detergent that may cause irritation, too.

Even if you do all you can, your daughter might continue to have adhesion on and off throughout childhood. But when she reaches puberty and her estrogen levels rise, the condition should disappear. Until then, there's no reason to be concerned about the adhesion if it's not causing any problems. Many little girls never even know they have it.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (21 hours later)
hi. Is mom's diet have any relation with baby's dysentry? why i am asking is the day when she had chocolate, the same day i had ghee which i have ever had from the date of delivery. Is new that i have added and i had raagi dosa from outside. Will that cud have caused any problem in addition to the choco she had? Please help me what i shud have and what i shud i avoid since i am breast feeding her. Thanks in advance.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (2 hours later)
Many new moms wonder how breastfeeding will affect their diet. You probably don't need to make any major changes to what you eat or drink when you're nursing, though there are a few important considerations to keep in mind:

Many breastfeeding moms feel extra hungry, which makes sense: Your body is working around the clock to make breast milk for your baby. Eating small meals with healthy snacks in between is a good way to keep your hunger in check and your energy level high.
Most women who are breastfeeding need about 500 calories more than moms who aren't – that's a total of 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day.

Variety and balance are key to a healthy diet. Eating a mix of carbohydrates protein, and fat at meals keeps you feeling full longer and supplies the nutrients your body needs.
Complex carbs like whole grains and cereals and fresh fruits and vegetables not only provide more nutrition than processed starches and sugars, they provide longer-lasting energy. And choosing from all food groups is important so you can get the vitamins you and your baby need over time. So mix it up – try to eat something today that you didn't eat yesterday.

When it comes to fat, think mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Sources of these "healthy fats" include canola oil, olive oil, and fatty fish (like salmon) as well as avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds.
Limit saturated fats and avoid trans fats, both of which are considered unhealthy. Saturated fats show up in high-fat meats, whole milk, tropical oils (such as palm kernel and coconut), butter, and lard.

It's a good idea to try to minimize your exposure to contaminants in your food (and your environment) while you're nursing. Pesticides, insecticides, and other chemicals that you ingest can make their way into your breast milk.

Know which fruits and vegetables are highest in pesticides, and choose organic options if possible. Always wash fruits and veggies well. Or better yet, peel them.

Choose produce that's in season in your area, and buy local when you can. Produce that travels long distances often have more pesticides.

Consider drinking filtered water while breastfeeding.

When you're breastfeeding, your body needs a total of 16 cups of fluid a day. (This includes the fluid in the food you eat, like fruits and vegetables.)

Most experts suggest that nursing moms limit their consumption of caffeine (including coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and coffee ice cream) to no more than 300 mg per day.

Most nursing moms can eat a wide variety of foods while nursing – including spicy foods – without any objection from their baby. In fact, some experts believe that babies enjoy a variety of flavors in their breast milk. Eating your favorite foods while you're nursing gives your baby a "taste" of your diet and may help him accept different foods once he starts eating solids.

But some moms swear that certain foods – like broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, dairy products, chocolate, citrus, garlic, or chili pepper – make their breastfed baby gassy or irritable. If your baby seems consistently uncomfortable after you eat a particular food, then by all means avoid it to see if your baby is happier.

In rare instances, your baby may be allergic to something you've eaten. If this is the case, you may notice a reaction on his skin (rash or hives), in his breathing (wheezing or congestion), or in his stools (green or mucousy).

Also, continue taking calcium and vitamin D supplements as long as you are lactating.
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

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

OBGYN

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 6004 Questions

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Child 5 Month Had HERSHELEYS Dark Chocolate. Suffering From Dysentery. Passing Loose Stools After Meals. Help?

Hello XXXXXX
Thanks for your query.
Most infants experience bouts of diarrhea from time to time. Most times diarrhea does not cause any lasting harm to an infant. However, young infants around the age of five months should be closely monitored for dehydration when diarrhea occurs. Dehydration in infants can become serious if not treated effectively.

Infant diarrhea may indicate the presence of a viral or bacterial intestinal infection. Also, diarrhea may occur as a result of a food intolerance or food allergy. Please consult your paediatrician at the earliest for diarrhoea / dysentery which is lasting for the past 5 days.

When diarrhea occurs, you may eliminate dairy products and juice for a short time and offer either soy-based formula or an electrolyte solution until the diarrhea subsides. Breastfeeding mothers should continue to breastfeed normally. Some 5-month-old infants may be eating solids foods. In this case, you can continue to offer the infant bananas and rice cereal. Parents may also want to keep a chart detailing the number of stools along with a description of each and also note any other symptoms. This chart will be beneficial if a doctor evaluates the infant.

In young infants, diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may be serious. Vomiting along with diarrhea increases the risk of dehydration even more. Signs of dehydration include the absence of wet diapers, dry eyes, dry mouth and weight loss. Other signs that warrant a doctor's appointment include blood in the stools, unresponsiveness, lethargy, a fever higher than 101 degrees and continual crying.

An infant should never be given an anti-diarrheal medication, without consultation with your doctor. These medications may be harmful to infants.

Take care, and feel free to discuss further.