Suggest Treatment For Severe Loose Stools In A Child

Posted on Sun, 25 Dec 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 25 Dec 2016 Answered on

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My son aged 1.8 years old is having a watery stool from past 3 days. it started after he was given idli, a XXXXXXX food for first time. On that day, He had 4 watery motions till afternoon and one motion after that. He had 5 to 6 watery stools daily. Today morning he had 2 motions but after that he has none. stools are watery. There is no change in his daily activities. he has no fever, no blood in his stool, nor any weakness. We are giving CVS electrolyte. Please let me know the prescription for him and the food needs to be given to him.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
May be due to intolerance to ingredient of Idly

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking HCM,

I have gone through the details and do understand your concern. To me it appears to be due to intolerance/allergy to some ingredient of idly, as there is no fever and a clear history of introduction to new item is there. Idly is usually made up of rice. Baking soda or other ingredients added to Idly for fermentation may cause intolerance, as intolerance to rice is very uncommon.

Its good to know that the frequency has decreased. It may take 5-7 days for the stool pattern to get completely normal.

Main stay of treatment here is avoidance of allergen(to which intolerant), giving plenty of fluid with electrolyte.

You need not to get overly worried and you can give all the home based cereals/food. Just avoid giving baking soda containing food and observe carefully after introduction to new food. You may avoid milk, juice or other sugar containing food temporarily(for few days) as this may precipitate the loose stool.

So continue giving ORS and home based food and the stool pattern will get normal withing next 2-3 days.

I hope this helps.
Please let me know if you've any more queries.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (5 hours later)

Thank you for your valuable suggestion doctor. We would stop milk and any sugar containing food for a weak till it gets normal. Yesterday after giving Kellogg's with milk at night again it turned medium stool to watery this morning. We will stop giving Kellogg's. Can you please suggest any other food that would help him to recover faster. Can we give any boiled vegetables, daal to him now. Currently we are giving oats with milk at morning and curd rice afternoon and evening. Again, thanks for the answer.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You may give rice,dal,khichdi and also boiled vegetables

Detailed Answer:
Hello

thanks for follow up

You may give rice,dal,khichdi (mixed rice,dal with some vegetables),oats etc.
Curd is very good item to give during loose stool as it is a good substitute of milk and also contains probiotics to maintain normal healthy gut flora.
No specific precaution is needed apart from giving plenty of fluids to maintain hydration and avoidance of milk/sugar containing food or high fibre containing food items.
There is no problem in giving milk once a day with oats and you may continue it.
Don't get worried,the stool pattern will get normal in next one or two days.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (24 minutes later)

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
My pleasure

Detailed Answer:
It's my pleasure sir.I shall be glad to help you out if you have any health related queries in future also.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy