My 6 year old son has had loose stools for about a week now, having to get up in the night to go. Also goes about 10 times a day or more. Back in October he had been given a Barium Xray to see if his small intestine was OK and it came up normal. The doctor's have not told us anything, we are worried and feel helpless. He wants to eat all the time, and says he feels fine, has no tummy pain. Yet he cannot stop going to the bathroom. Is there anything we can do to help him? Thanks...
12/ 2/08 2:08pm
Hi Confused,
For some reason I can only see the first 2 or 3 sentences that you wrote and in that you've not given enough information for me to help. Loose stools can be from a number of causes. IBD has very specific symptoms like chronic diarrhea, blood present in the stool, low grade fevers, cramping, lethargy, and joint pain.
You need to get back in contact with your son's doctor and talk to him about the x-ray results and continue to keep him informed of your sons current symptom. There's just no way to diagnose him properly over the internet.
Good luck,
Elizabeth
12/ 2/08 4:48pm
Hello, Confused Parent.
I can imagine that you must be, not only confused, but concerned as well.
Though your question is self-titled, "Is this IBS or IBD," from the information you have given (I only can read part of your question; it seems as if some is missing), I don't have any reason to assume that it's either of these unrelated disorders. Diarrhea can be the result of any number of GI issues. Additionally, a small bowel follow through (the name for the barium x-ray of the small intestine that you described) is notorious for being a very poor tool in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease, especially in children. You might want to have a discussion with your son's doctor about this.
Good luck.
Hope
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By Confused Parent— Last Modified: 12/25/10, First Published: 12/02/08
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