HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Breastfed Child Suffering From Loose Motions. Stool Tests Show Positive For Reducing Substance. Any Advice ?

My 2 months 2 weeks old baby is suffering from loose motion for the past 8 days. she is passing yellow watery motion at least 7 to 8 times a day, mostly soon after the intake of breast milk. Her diet included 90 percent of breast milk and about 60 ml of formula everyday but we have stopped formula after she had loose motion. she has been feeding on the same formula right from her 15th day. Her stool test results are as below. please advice

REDUCING SUBSTANCE Positive ( 0.5% )
Colour Yellowish
Appearence Semi Liquid
REACTION Acid
Blood Nil
Mucus ( + )
Ova Nil
Cyst Nil
Trophozoite Nil
Flagellates Nil
RBC 1-2 /HPF
PUS CELLS 30-40 /HPF
Fri, 6 Dec 2013
Report Abuse
Pediatrician 's  Response
Hi,thank you for your query,your baby is on breast milk mostly and only 10% formula feed,usually breast fed baby will have 5-6 loose stools per day and passing stool after each feed is also physiological as it is nothing but exaggerated gastro-colic reflex,the only thing suggestive of infection is pus cells in the stool beyond normal limits which may be due to infection out of formula feeds and this may be controlled by simple colistin sulphate as per the advice of a Pediatrician along with pre and pro-biotics.
I find this answer helpful
Pediatrician Dr. Sumeet Arora's  Response
Hi there,

THank you for choosing healthcaremagic.

We will try our best to address your concern.

You mentioned that your 2 months old has had diarrhea for the past 8 days and everytime you feed her she has a bowel movement.

In her stool report she has 30-40 pus cells as well as reducing substances.

I would like to know if she was any antibiotics prior to starting her diarrhea.

Your baby is suffering from infective enterocolitis. The stool sample should be sent for culture and sensitivity so that organism is identified and antibiotic initiated accordingly.
With acute infections at times, the stool can be positive for reducing substances, you donot need to worry about that too much, it is usually a transient phase which goes away slowly in 2-3 weeks time after the infection has been resolved. And if it is persisting, you could try giving her lactose free formula like soy based formula temporarily once the infection has been treated for 2-3 weeks and then return slowly to breastmilk, but continue to express your breastmilk so as to maintain the supply.

Also, since your baby is just 2 months old, she is at risk for dehydration, I would suggest that she be evaluated by her pediatrician for the same and also have electrolytes as well as urea and creatinine tested.
Encourage her to breastfeed frequently, if she has more frequent stools, then give her oral rehydration syrup, small sips more frequently so as to compensate for the fluid loss from the watery stools.

Hope this helps.
Best wishes.

Regards,
Dr. Sumeet.
I find this answer helpful

1 Doctor agrees with this answer


Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Dehydration


Loading Online Doctors....
Breastfed Child Suffering From Loose Motions. Stool Tests Show Positive For Reducing Substance. Any Advice ?

Hi,thank you for your query,your baby is on breast milk mostly and only 10% formula feed,usually breast fed baby will have 5-6 loose stools per day and passing stool after each feed is also physiological as it is nothing but exaggerated gastro-colic reflex,the only thing suggestive of infection is pus cells in the stool beyond normal limits which may be due to infection out of formula feeds and this may be controlled by simple colistin sulphate as per the advice of a Pediatrician along with pre and pro-biotics.