Question: On Dec. 22 my 3 year old had watery diarrhea, fever of 102 and stomach cramps. We attributed it to a virus. The fever lasted 3 days. The watery diarrhea continued for a week to 10 days. On Dec. 27 and Dec. 28 she had several tablespoons of blood in her diaper mixed with her stool. We went to the hospital where they ran a C. Diff (negative), ROTA (negative), leukocytes (positive), stool culture (negative). They also did a CT scan with contrast to check for intususseption. That was normal other than minor thickening of the sigmoid colon indicating inflammation. That was also negative. CBC was normal. WBC count was normal. We were referred to a pediatric gastro. He was pretty sure that it was some sort of infection. Her stools returned to normal that day. XXXXXXX 5. Her stools have been normal since then as we have been restricting irritating foods. The gastro did mention ulcerative colitis could be a possibility if she didn't get better, but wasn't sold on that idea just yet. We decided to give her what she wanted to eat. Yesterday, her stool was loose again with what I thought may or may not have been a tiny streak of blood. I am wondering if the food could be irritating her colon since it just went through so much. I really don't want to put her through a colonoscopy and her gastro is happy to just wait and watch her since she has improved so much.

Just a little side note: She was breastfed for almost 3 years. While nursing she had no appetite and rarely ate food other than a bite here and there. Once she weaned she still had very little appetite, so we have had her on a meal replacement shake (Pediasure). She has been drinking these and snacking as her food for nearly the last year. Since this ordeal, I have stopped giving her the pediasure and she actually has been eating 3 meals per day. She has put on 2 lbs in the last 3 weeks and gained over an inch in height. Her gastro did say that with inflammatory bowel disease in most cases patients loose weight, not gain.

What is your opinion on this?

Thank you! How long does the colon take to recover from this? How long could the loose stool continue?

In your opinion this does not sound like inflammatory bowel disease, correct? This is my biggest fear.One more question....would it be normal while recovering to see a streak of blood every now and then in her stool?