An app for what? Poop colour in newborns!

Parents often ask me about the significance of poop colour. I have a blog post addressing some of the major colour changes in children of all ages, see “rainbow”.

Pale stools in young infants can signify structural obstruction to the biliary tree: Biliary Atresia. This is not common in the Caribbean, but outcomes are definitely time – dependent. The best results are obtained when corrective action is taken before the infant is three months old. Mothers who suspect that their baby is having unusually pale stool should seek out a paediatric specialist to help them through the necessary blood tests and radiological scans that can determine exactly what the cause of the unusual colour might be.

Here is a link to an app dedicated to newborn poop colour. Please share your thoughts on this pre – diagnostic tool.

P.S. I am still toying with making an app dedicated to constipation. …

http://m.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/04/17/baby-poop-app-aims-to-cut-rate-of-severe-liver-disease-in-newborns/

How do you Doo? Part 1: Consistency

Many parents are disturbed, confused and even frightened by changes in children’s stool texture. Below is a Caribbean modification of the Bristol Stool Form Chart which enables parents to describe and discuss the little ones “productions” with better understanding from the health care professionals. Types 1-2 are TOO DRY, usually due to staying in the colon for an extended period. Types 5-6 still contain a lot of the fluid from the digestive process and are TOO WET. BSF types 3-4 are ideal stool consistency.

Occasional fluctuation in consistency may occur due to change in diet. High fibre foods usually result in bulky soft to watery stools. Some fruits (eg. prunes) and other foods contain sugars /sugar alcohol such as sucralose, sorbitol and lactulose which pull fluid into the intestinal lumen and result is soft – loose stools.

Any illness associated with a fever may result in increased fluid loss (sweat/ mouth breathing) and decreased fluid intact (with loss of appetite) This is a common cause of acutely dry, hard and painful stools. Foods like RICE; APPLE SAUCE and WHITE FLOUR promote hard dry stools.  WHITE FLOUR SNACKS include: white bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers, dumplings and “cheese snacks” (such as Big Foot, Doritos, Cheese Trix etc)

Of course, a real picture is worth a thousand words, and many pictures are not for the faint of heart. Would you like to upload your pictures anonymously for help classifying what you are seeing at home?

For children under 7 years, it is good for parents to observe the stools consistency, frequency and colour. We will continue to address these issues in this blog. Please post or email your specific questions.