I don't know if this is serious!!

@vijigopi (991)
United States
July 15, 2008 10:51am CST
My son who is going to be 2 years old next month has been pooing a lot lately - about 5/6 times daily and his stools look like corn. He hasn't been eating corn at all but I noticed that if he eats something he poos. Once or twice it looks like diarrhea but otherwise it is normal stools. I am getting quite worried about it now since it doesn't seem to go away and his diaper rashes aren't getting any better too. I thought maybe I'm giving him too much to eat and lessened his intake but although it looked like the right solution for a day, he's back again to pooing 5/6 times. Should I take him to the doctor rightaway or are there are any over-the-counter medicines for this? Otherwise he is very active, no fevers and nothing else to complain about. And he is getting a few molars too... I'm not sure if that is the cause. What should I do?
2 people like this
12 responses
@mandykaren (2040)
15 Jul 08
look, when it comes to young children, dont wait for responses here, or try to diagnose yourself. dont take chances, seek professional advise.. Only you know if it dont seem right to how the child normally is.. You have concerns and a mother normally can sense if something not right, so therefore its enough to need to take him to the doctor.. And no doctor would think you are wasting their time when it comes to a very young child, if you are concerned. Do it now :) seems to me food is going straight through him, digestion system.. i dont know... hope it goes well all the best to you and your child..
2 people like this
15 Jul 08
i also forget to say.. if was anything wrong, the quicker you seek doctor the less chance it be serious. ok :)) its probly nothing, mothers can worry much lol but it dont hurt to reasure your mind by a doctor ok
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@vijigopi (991)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Thanks for the suggestion!! I was going to take him to the doctor anyway but I wanted to make sure I could do something to keep him better before I get an appointment(which takes a long time)!!
1 person likes this
15 Jul 08
ofcourse, i understand that.. :) and this is good place to ask as i noticed most are really nice and helpful.. and always a chance someone else has had the same problem. take care
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@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
15 Jul 08
My son developed lactose intolerance when he was about 2 1/2. When ever he had any milk ormil products he got diarrhea really bad. His butt was so raw it bled. We had to first find the cause of the diarrhea, which took months, then we learned which foods contained a milk product - for example McDonald's fries were dipped in lactose to brown nicer. We then got Lactaid - which is an enzyme that he took with every meal. Problem solved. Put your son on the BRAT diet - boiled rice, apple sauce and toast and see what happens. Then try adding foods back in.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
17 Jul 08
Milk is not the only thing that contains lactose, as I said McD french fries had lactose to help them brown. My son did outgrow it by the time he was 4 or 5. Talk with your doctor or try using Lactaid tablets when he eats and have him drink Lact-aid Milk.
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I didn't know we could develop lactose intolerance after being tolerant with it!! Maybe I should stop giving him milk for sometime. Thanks!!
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
15 Jul 08
My son went trough a phase like that when he was about 18 months old. I took him to the doctor about it because his daycare thought it was diarrhea from being sick and I was not allowed to bring him back until he was better. The doctor told me that there was nothing wrong with my son and that it was just something that doctors referred to as toddler diarrhea. [b] Toddler's diarrhea[/b] If your child has multiple loose bowel movements per day, perhaps containing undigested foods or mucus and foul-smelling stool, he may have what doctors call toddler's diarrhea. There's no discernible cause, except perhaps the addition of new foods or other change in diet. Your toddler will continue to gain weight and grow normally, soon outgrowing this condition. Here is the page I found the definition on. It has a bunch of stuff on diarrhea you might want to check out to determine if it is Toddler's diarrhea or something serious. http://www.babycenter.com/0_diarrhea_12205.bc
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@vijigopi (991)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Thanks for that link!! From that link, I found that children could have diarrhea if they have an ear infection!! My son is very prone to ear infections. Although he usually get a slight fever which is how I know he's got an infection, maybe this time he's got a different symptom. Thanks a lot for the link. I am just worried he's having diaper rashes that don't seem to go away.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 08
Cutting teeth can make the stool watery. But the corn part when the baby is not eating any is something else. Look closer. Is the corn "moving?" Do you have a dog? Sounds like possible pin worms. Not to worry. Ask the doctor to check out his stool. If it's pinworms,then clean his sheets, get him on a med the doctor can give and make sure the dog is wormed, if you do have one! Happens to kids? -I'd say..check it out with the doc. You don't want the child to become dehydrated. Until the doctor sees him, make sure he has lots of fluids!
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@vijigopi (991)
• United States
15 Jul 08
No. The corn does not move. It looks like corn dipped in flour . But, he is not itching anywhere and we don't have a pet. Yes, he does have a lot fluids throughout the day but I'm wondering if I should cut out the milk for sometime till he gets ok.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
15 Jul 08
If you're wondering if your family pet could give your child a pinworm infection, it can't. Pinworms don't come from animals. If your child has a pinworm infection, you might also see the worms in the toilet after he or she goes to the bathroom. They look like tiny pieces of white thread and are really small — about as long as a staple. You might also see them on your child's underwear in the morning. http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/pinworm.html
2 people like this
@ShealM (388)
• Canada
15 Jul 08
My littles go through this from time to time too. Is it possible your little one has a wheat or gluten allergy or dairy allergy? Another possibility is the teething, I've noticed with my 15 month old (who is also cutting some molars) that he is showing the same signs that you described. I believe that his teething is what is causing this issue. I would (and I have for my little guy) rule out wheat or gluten and dairy allergies. My little guy has a moderate dairy intolerance (intolerance and allergy are two different things all together). Is the little one eating and drinking as usual? Same personality? No lethargy or high fever? (slight fever for some children is a reaction to teething). The rashes can either be the diaper brand, the amount of feces he's producing (irritation from it) or even his teething. Have you switched diaper brands (for the rash)? Switched detergents? Diaper wipe brands? Even diaper rash cream brand switching can cause rashes instead of helping them. Try Palmer's Bottom Butter (Zellers, Walmart, ect), stuff is ingenious! Or try a diaper rash cream with zinc in it (Penaten for example - any jar that says medicated has zinc in it). If it really worries you, take him in to his pediatrician and have him looked at. It's safer to err on the side of caution than not at all. Ask for an allergist and bring that issue up as well. Never go more than 14 to 17 days with a rash or pooping that doesn't seem normal. Never more than 5 to 7 days with full on diarrhea. If you need to use an electrolyte replacement supplement if he becomes lethargic or very sleepy and doesn't seem normal (pedialyte for example, you can get it in fluid or freezie pops)
2 people like this
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
17 Jul 08
He is eating normal, no fever, nothing else that seems to worry me. The pooing seems to be better one day and then worse and then better again and then worse, which confused me if this was serious or not. He normally drinks a lot of water, and his poop doesn't have too much water in them. It is just once or twice that it looked like diarrhea. Otherwise it is only the corn like thing and the number of times he goes that worries me the most. I haven't switched anything lately so I don't think its because of that. I guess it should be due to teething or an ear infection.
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I agree with the one that said you should see a doctor. The reason I say this is because my children have Ulcerative Colitis and a symptom of that is going to the bathroom alot. Every time my son eats he goes to the bathroom within about 10-15 minutes. So this should be looked into because even very young children can have this disease. I don't wish to scare you but if your child does have this is it is better to get treatment than to let it go. My son should have gone to the doctor sooner but being he was older (15 at the time)& he was in denial and felt like he could control it himself. Question does the stool look like it has mucous in it? Cause that can be a symptom too. Hopefully it is nothing. Take care and let me know if you need anything.
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
17 Jul 08
oh oh!! My son does exactly that - I mean going to the bathroom after a eats something. I will ask the doctor about this. Thanks!!
• Canada
16 Jul 08
It sounds like he may be allergic to something in the food but if I were you I would take him in just incase it is something more serious. You should never doubt your insticts. Who cares if it is nothing at least you are putting your mind at ease. Not sure about where you are but in canada we have a nurses hotline that you can call to get advice on whether or not you should take him in. If you have a line like that out where you are you could try that first as well. Hugs, StrawberryKisses
1 person likes this
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I don't know about any such hotline here but we're going to the doctor today. Thanks for the suggestion.
@seabeauty (1480)
• United States
16 Aug 08
That sounds odd. I have no idea what that could be. I read the other posters comments especially the one about the Toddlers Diarreah and that makes total sense.
@rup011 (725)
• Germany
21 Jul 08
If anything seems out of normal for a child, immediately go to a doctor. Its true that during the teething period, children have changes in their stools. More over there are different phases and after each phase you may experience some change in both eating habit and poos. Do not give over the counter medicine without consulting a doctor. Its better to go to the doctor, take his advise and be free of tension. Try giving him more and more fluids to drink.
1 person likes this
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I went to the doctor last Thursday and am still waiting for the lab results to come in. As of now, the doctor has no idea what is causing the diarrhea.
@bangwin29 (147)
• Philippines
16 Jul 08
you have to see a doctor for that, diarhrea is a serious problem and should not be taken for granted, try giving him more water or oral rehydration salts, don't give him milk because it could worsen it and he might have lactose intolerance, make an appointment now with your pediatrician to know what is the problem and do it quickly.
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
17 Jul 08
Did it!! It is just that getting an appointment takes quite some time here in US!!
@xsquid (111)
• Indonesia
16 Jul 08
please do not take chance with children, take your son to doctor immediately is the best solution. I think you don't need to wait for response to this thread. Children cannot speak their mind if they are sick or something, so it is up to us as parent to take care of them.
1 person likes this
@amanda08 (647)
• United States
15 Jul 08
first of all, I am sorry that you guys have to go through this.. I know that not knowing what is wrong with your child can be excruciatingly painful.... you know, I do think that you should not give him milk for a couple of days just because milk makes diarrhea worse... I also think you should take him to the doc because they are the only one's who can tell you what is truly going on... and someone else said.. if you wait it may get serious... you should mainly be worried about dehydration if he seems alright otherwise... children can get dehydrated very easily and quickly... he/she should be taking in AT LEAST his body weight times two in ounces... I suggest pedialyte... Just make sure he/she isn't drinking lots of sugary drinks either.... I know that white stools indicate gallbladder issues usally.. 2 is very young, but I'm sure it is possible, unfortunately... anyway.. I hope your child feels better very soon and I hope you guys can get to a doc soon! :)
@vijigopi (991)
• United States
17 Jul 08
Thanks! We are seeing a doctor today!
@amanda08 (647)
• United States
17 Jul 08
I am so glad to hear that you are getting to a doctor.. I it will turn out to be nothing serious, and I hope you will keep us updated and let us know that everything turned out fine... thanks for your response! :) I hope everything goes well!