DS (2.7) has, ahem, horrendously smelly poo

[megonthemoon]

Sorry, this really is TMI, especially considering it's tea time! I've been putting off posting because of that but I do really need some MN advice now.

DS is 2.7. I would say that on and off for the last 6 months he has had foul-smelling very soft poos. Not always, but I'd say up to half of his poos are like this at the moment.

They aren't watery like diarrhea, just very soft, often explosive, and when like this he has several a day (whereas when they are normal he has only one or two a day). And the smell is horrendous - way worse than normal adult ones. I don't have older children to compare him too and at first I thought that maybe he just had a reaction to fruit - he loves it - as I know that it can affect some children badly. But I've held back on fruit at home without any change and have recently been chatting to his nursery staff and they have confirmed that his poos are really bad - far worse smelling than any of the other children's :(

He is showing all the signs of wanting to potty train but I doubt it will work because of this - when he has a normal poo in his nappy he will tell me straight away but when he has one of these bad ones it's like he doesn't notice it has happened.

When I spoke to a HV a few weeks ago (not my usual good one unfortunately as she was on holiday) she vaguely suggested I should try to cut back on some foods to see if I could work out what it was but she wasn't very helpful with what food groups and for how long etc. I am going to make a doctor's appointment to talk about this, but I just wondered if any of you had any experience of this or any ideas so I can articulate better what I want to happen as otherwise it's highly possible the GP may just think I'm a neurotic mother or tell me to give him Calpol just to get me out of the door!

FWIW my dad has coeliac disease, so I have always watched out for that, but it doesn't seem to be linked to gluten intake. In fact I haven't noticed a correlation with anything in particular but I guess it must be something dietary.

All help gratefully received, particularly given the icky subject matter!

[NorthernLurker]

Well it sounds like something dietary. Could it be fruit juice - does he have fresh stuff?
How much red meat does he eat - that usually make thing smell worse?

[megonthemoon]

He mainly drinks water and milk but does occasionally have juice (maybe once a week). He loves fruit but I have cut back on that (to just 1 or 2 pieces a day) in case that was causing it, but no real improvement.

Hadn't thought about red meat - has it maybe 4 or 5 meals per week I guess.

Can anyone describe how we can establish any dietary intolerances? What should I be asking the GP for?

[bamboobutton]

could it be toddlers diarrhoea?

ds's poo is very soft, almost an angels delight consistancy, and smells terrible too.

does his poo have lumps of food in it(sweet corn, peas etc)

[mummynoseynora]

sounds very like my DD who eventually (after about 9 months of it) got worse and went diarroeah (sp) like.... turned out she was lactose intolerant... we cut out all dairy for 2 weeks initially and saw an improvement within a week... so we kept her completely lactose free for 3 months (using lactofree milk and cheese / yogs) we are now slowly introducing it back and she is ok so far

The only way you will pinpoint it (or the gp) is elimination diets - good luck!

[megonthemoon]

Yes - sweetcorn and peas are particular offenders...

[bamboobutton]

info on toddlers diarrhoea

[AntPants1]

Go to the doctor and get them to send a sample of his poo off for testing. He may have a bug and need a course of anti b's. My DD had really really smelly slightly loose poos when she was about 2.5 and after sending her poos off to be tested turned out she had a bug. A week of Anti Bs and she was fine.

HTH

[auntevil]

It is worth going to get the DR to get a stool sample checked. As the toddlers diarrhoea info says - sugar often causes problems. Lactose in dairy is sugar. Fructose is the sugar in fruit - sucrose (usual processed sugar) is in many products. All of these produce excess hydrogen when not processed properly.
Keeping a food diary to take to your GP - and a 'stool' diary with information from the Bristol Stool chart (solidity) will give your GP more information to go on. The food diary might also give you an idea as to what could be a trigger food. I actually knew my DS was intolerant to bananas 2 years before he was tested for fructose intolerance by keeping a diary of when there were explosive events - and what he had eaten.

[Booner]

Hi Megonthemoon,

I would really urge you to have him tested for coeliac disease, especially as it can run in families, he can have the blood test initially. Don't change anything in is diet until the tests are complete.

My two boys have it as well as my niece.

My youngest had the tremendously acrid smelly poo and other symptoms and was really quite poorly by the time he was diagnosed at 3.4 years.

Does he have any other symptoms?

[stirlingstar]

We had a similar experience with DS1, from about 15 months. At nearly 4 he is now much better, but still prone to have explosive and/or very smelly episodes.

Do read the toddler diarrhoea info that bamboo posted. I think the experience is quite common, and not necessarily something to be too worried about. Definitely try eliminating dairy, fructose etc and see if it helps - also seek help if he seems unwell or not thriving - but it could just be something that he will grow out of.

When investigating it at the time, I also read that quite a small change in the amount of fluid left in the intestine can make the difference between normal poo and diarrhoea.

FWIW, DS1 seemed to get a lot better when he potty trained (and I talked to a couple of other MNers at the time who said the same). Possibly because the maturity of learning to control his bowel movements (ie time them to go in the toilet) also coincided/helped his bowel learn to regulate itself better?? (That's just a personal theory).

What a pleasant subject!

[megonthemoon]

Thank you all! This is hugely helpful - giving me ideas on what it could be and what to ask the Dr about.

One thing that I just remembered is he had a bad bout of gastroenteritis in July - in fact the only time he has had it - and he has been worse since then. So I'll definitely get the doctor to check for any residual infection, and also wonder if that has made his intestines a bit more sensitive perhaps.

But I do think it is more than just that as it was happening before as well.

[StainlessSteelCat]

Another thank you from me - I came on to ask about very smiliar symptoms in my nearly 2 yo DD, and like Meg I'm confident I can now go and ask more useful questions at the doctors. the link to toddler's diarrhoea was especially useful,

Mumsnet rocks :o

[MummaofoneIdr]

hey,

I’ve just found this thread after searching for some advice. It’s sounds exactly like my 2.7 daughter.

Did you ever find our the cause of the soft poops?

thanks so much x