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What Causes Semi Formed To Loose Stools?
Question: Dear doctor,
My 6.5 month old son has been having semi formed to loose stools for the past 2 days. 7-8 times a day. The stools have a lot of mucus in them. He is on semi solids and formula. He is energetic and has no fever. His stool test yesterday said mucus- positive, occult blood- positive trace and 0-1 RBC seen. No pus cells etc and all else normal. Today we repeated the stool test. Today the test said: mucus- positive, occult blood- positive and 1-2 RBCs seen. No pus, etc and the rest of the test was normal. Yesterday the doctor advised a zinc supplement for 14 days and nothing else. But the occult blood is making me anxious. His weight gain is fine and there is no dehydration. Do I need to worry or is this self limiting? Is the occult blood anything to worry about. I really look forward to a reply. Many thanks in advance.XXXX
My 6.5 month old son has been having semi formed to loose stools for the past 2 days. 7-8 times a day. The stools have a lot of mucus in them. He is on semi solids and formula. He is energetic and has no fever. His stool test yesterday said mucus- positive, occult blood- positive trace and 0-1 RBC seen. No pus cells etc and all else normal. Today we repeated the stool test. Today the test said: mucus- positive, occult blood- positive and 1-2 RBCs seen. No pus, etc and the rest of the test was normal. Yesterday the doctor advised a zinc supplement for 14 days and nothing else. But the occult blood is making me anxious. His weight gain is fine and there is no dehydration. Do I need to worry or is this self limiting? Is the occult blood anything to worry about. I really look forward to a reply. Many thanks in advance.XXXX
Brief Answer:
bacillary dysentery,stool culture/antibiotics
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
Welcome to the HCM,
My opinion is that, child to be treated as a case of bacillary dysentery.
Sent the a stool culture/sensitivity examination to get the exact bug causing the problem and also exact drug sensitive for the bug.
Empirically one start antibiotic like colistin sulphate/ofloxacin till the result of stool culture is available.
Please take care of the hand to mouth hygiene.
Mouthing practices by the children at this age are quite important for such infections.
Gum irritation leads to putting every thing in the mouth.
Hope the query is answered.
Please feel free for further clarification.
Thanks
bacillary dysentery,stool culture/antibiotics
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear
Welcome to the HCM,
My opinion is that, child to be treated as a case of bacillary dysentery.
Sent the a stool culture/sensitivity examination to get the exact bug causing the problem and also exact drug sensitive for the bug.
Empirically one start antibiotic like colistin sulphate/ofloxacin till the result of stool culture is available.
Please take care of the hand to mouth hygiene.
Mouthing practices by the children at this age are quite important for such infections.
Gum irritation leads to putting every thing in the mouth.
Hope the query is answered.
Please feel free for further clarification.
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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