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What Causes Orange Stool In A Child?
Question: My 5 year old daughter woke up today with orange, oily stools. She doesn't feel that she has to go to the bathroom, but a discharge continues to come out, staining her panties several times today. She doesn't complain of anything else, no stomach pain, doesn't hurt when she needs to urinate, or have a bowel movement. She has been active as normal. She does have a slight cold, started over the weekend, but other than that doesn't complain of anything else.
Brief Answer:
Could be a mild food contamination and colour from food or medicines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.... by what you say I feel that it could be mild food poisoning and the colour could be from the food or medicines which she might have been given for cold. It could also be a viral diarrhea.
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.
Once it starts it will take 5-7 days to completely get better.
There is no need to use antibiotics unless there is blood in the motion. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhoea.
I suggest you use zinc supplements (Z&D drops 1ml once daily for 14 days) & ORS (Each small packet mixed in 200ml of potable water and keep giving sip by sip) as hydration is very important and crucial part of treatment. If there is vomiting you can use Syrup Ondansetron (as prescribed by your paediatrician).
Regarding diet - Avoid fruit juices as they might aggravate diarrhea. You can give zinc supplements & ORS apart from normal vegetarian porridges & soups.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Could be a mild food contamination and colour from food or medicines
Detailed Answer:
Hi.... by what you say I feel that it could be mild food poisoning and the colour could be from the food or medicines which she might have been given for cold. It could also be a viral diarrhea.
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.
Once it starts it will take 5-7 days to completely get better.
There is no need to use antibiotics unless there is blood in the motion. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhoea.
I suggest you use zinc supplements (Z&D drops 1ml once daily for 14 days) & ORS (Each small packet mixed in 200ml of potable water and keep giving sip by sip) as hydration is very important and crucial part of treatment. If there is vomiting you can use Syrup Ondansetron (as prescribed by your paediatrician).
Regarding diet - Avoid fruit juices as they might aggravate diarrhea. You can give zinc supplements & ORS apart from normal vegetarian porridges & soups.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much for easy our minds. As it turns out, the discharge ceased late last night, no issues over night or this morning. =) Thank you again and Happy New Year!!
Brief Answer:
Happy that my suggestions helped you ease your minds
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I am.happy that my suggestions helped you ease your minds.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Happy that my suggestions helped you ease your minds
Detailed Answer:
Hi... I am.happy that my suggestions helped you ease your minds.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
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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