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What Causes Frothy Stool In A Three Year Old?
Posted on
Tue, 7 Oct 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 7 Oct 2014
Answered on
Thu, 30 Oct 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : My 3 year old son has frequent bouts of frothy poo. He is not a great eater but will have a bowel movement nearly every time he uses the toilet, this can be up to 15 times in a day. He is small for his age and very slim. He eats very limited dairy produce (through his own choice) but eats a varied diet. He has always been very windy since birth. He was breast fed until 17 months.
Brief Answer:
Malabsorption is occurring
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on HealthCareMagic. Before starting, I would like to ask
1. The birth weight of the baby
2. Was he born at term or preterm. If so, how early.
3. From birth to 6 months of age, has the baby been exclusively breast fed or has the baby received top feeds
Now let me address the issues one by one.
A frothy stool indicates growth of yeast and fermentation of semi digested or undigested carbohydrate matter.
Windy indicates bacterial overgrowth in the intestines and thereby degration of semi digested or undigested carbohydrate matter with production of certain gases.
Frequency of passage of stool as you have mentioned could be due to certain malabsorption syndromes.
In summary, malabsorption is occurring.
This malabsorption is causing inadequacy of nutrients and hence failure to thrive for which the child is small for his age.
Milk contains lactose and at times lactose intolerance is seen. I would insist withdrawal of all lactose based products except for curd or yogurt which may be given.
I would ask you to do is to avoid wheat based products altogether. Try this and certain malabsorption syndromes would get managed. Give a rice based diet.
Our body is made of proteins and we get energy from carbohydrates. Protein is present in meat, eggs, fish, soya beans, pulses, spinach, carrots etc. Carbohydrate is present in rice and bread (avoid the latter). These things are required in bulk.
Give a fibre rich diet. Give small but frequent meals.
Give Zinconia syrup 5 ml once daily for a few days.
Try these measures and I hope things would improve.
Malabsorption is occurring
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for posting on HealthCareMagic. Before starting, I would like to ask
1. The birth weight of the baby
2. Was he born at term or preterm. If so, how early.
3. From birth to 6 months of age, has the baby been exclusively breast fed or has the baby received top feeds
Now let me address the issues one by one.
A frothy stool indicates growth of yeast and fermentation of semi digested or undigested carbohydrate matter.
Windy indicates bacterial overgrowth in the intestines and thereby degration of semi digested or undigested carbohydrate matter with production of certain gases.
Frequency of passage of stool as you have mentioned could be due to certain malabsorption syndromes.
In summary, malabsorption is occurring.
This malabsorption is causing inadequacy of nutrients and hence failure to thrive for which the child is small for his age.
Milk contains lactose and at times lactose intolerance is seen. I would insist withdrawal of all lactose based products except for curd or yogurt which may be given.
I would ask you to do is to avoid wheat based products altogether. Try this and certain malabsorption syndromes would get managed. Give a rice based diet.
Our body is made of proteins and we get energy from carbohydrates. Protein is present in meat, eggs, fish, soya beans, pulses, spinach, carrots etc. Carbohydrate is present in rice and bread (avoid the latter). These things are required in bulk.
Give a fibre rich diet. Give small but frequent meals.
Give Zinconia syrup 5 ml once daily for a few days.
Try these measures and I hope things would improve.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Answered by
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