What can we do for our daughter if she has loose stools?
39-year-old woman
Hello. My 2 year old daughter, 8 months old, has always had loose stools. In the last few weeks, she has had some loose stools. It is sporadic. A few weeks ago, we consulted for a severe stomach ache, but it was constipation. Since then, she says her tummy hurts whenever she has to defecate or has gas. So it's hard to know if she's really in pain. Can we give her something? Should we consult? Thank you.
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Marc-Antoine Dufresne · 3 years ago
Good morning, Madam,
In order to better answer your question, I would need the following clarifications;
- During the medical consultation for constipation, what was the doctor's diagnosis?
- Also during the medical consultation for constipation, were any medications prescribed? If so, what were they and were they effective?
- Is your daughter still passing stool or is nothing coming out (if so, how long has it been since she passed stool)?
- Does she have any other associated symptoms (e.g. blood or mucus in the stool, decreased appetite and/or general condition, nausea/vomiting, weight loss, etc.)?
Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacist (Pharm.D.).
39-year-old woman · 3 years ago
hello, the reason for the consultation was stomach pains and the diagnosis was constipation. Nothing was prescribed. The problem resolved naturally the next day
She evacuates very well, as mentioned, she sometimes has liquid stools, there is no constipation at the moment. She has no other symptoms
thank you
Marc-Antoine Dufresne · 3 years ago
Thank you for your clarification!
How is she doing today? Is she still complaining of stomach pains?
39-year-old woman · 3 years ago
No, not today. I would like to know if I can give her something if she still has loose stools. Thank you
Marc-Antoine Dufresne · 3 years ago
I'm glad to read that your daughter is doing better!
When your daughter has loose stools, the first thing to do is to make sure she gets back the water and electrolytes she loses in her loose stools. Oral rehydration solutions (e.g. Gastrolyte, Pedialyte) are specially designed for this purpose and contain the right amount of electrolytes, unlike Gatorade and other drinks. They are relatively affordable (especially Gastrolyte, since they are sachets of powder to be mixed in water) and available in pharmacies without prescription.
Since your daughter is over 2 years old, loperamide (Imodium) can sometimes be tried if loose stools are inconvenient for your daughter's quality of life. However, when an infectious cause is suspected to be responsible for the loose stools, it is best not to administer loperamide, as there is a risk of worsening the infection. The recommended dosage for acute diarrhea in children 2 to 5 years of age (10 to 20 kg) is 1 mg 3 times daily for the first 24 hours, then 0.1 mg per kg per dose thereafter as needed. For more information on the proper dosage of loperamide for your daughter, please consult your local pharmacist.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions!
Marc-Antoine Dufresne, pharmacist (Pharm.D.).
39-year-old woman · 3 years ago
Thank you
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