very smelly pale coloured poo

[abigail12]

My son 4.5yrs has very smelly poo, when you walk in bathroom after him it stinks, and smells slightly odd- not that poo usually smells delightful but I'd say it's smells different. Also the poo is very pale beige colour... He's perfectly well in himself, tall and slim, not super skinny. He was lactose intolerant until he was two, wonder if it's anything to do with this?

[onepieceoflollipop]

If this continues, I would consult G.P.
I think it can be a sign of coeliac disease ( gluten intolerance)

[onepieceoflollipop]

X-post :)

[Iggly]

Mine has this. Lactose intolerance is rare in children as they'd not be able to drink bm either without issue - it was more likely a cows milk protein intolerance.

When I cut dairy right back to just a bit of cheese, his poos go back to normal. I have to give calcium enriched milk instead though.

[MysticMugBug]

My poo often smells of burning plastic
I am lactose intolerant.

[abigail12]

Thanks, I'll take him to gp, wasn't sure whether I should since he's not losing weight or anything and thought they might just tell me that poo just always smells bad! If it is gluten intolerance is it harmful if I keep giving him gluten products?

[onepieceoflollipop]

If it is gluten intolerance, he needs to still be eating gluten when any blood tests are done.

[abigail12]

When he was lactose intolerant (diagnosed by me, so could be wrong) he had diarrhoea all the time, switched to lactofree products and instantly he was better. around his second birthday this seemed to go. Couldn't really describe the smell as burning plastic but I would say it doesn't smell like normal poo. What are the other symptoms of coeliac?

[Karma1981]

I'm celiac and can I just say it is not a gluten intolerance, it is an autoimmune disorder.
The symptoms I had were tummy pains, infections,joint pain,headaches,pins and needles.
But everyone is different and in most cases will only by diagnosed after they put a camra down and get samples of the upper gut.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Karma you have explained it more accurately than me. :) Dh is coeliac and although I know about a gluten free diet, I wrongly described it on my pp as gluten intolerance.

[Mitzi50]

Does his poo float?

[abigail12]

Hi karma, no he doesn't have any of those symptoms, seems perfectly well I'm himself. He's hyperactive and can't stay still for more than two secs but nothing that I think is abnormal for a child. Only symptom is really stinky pale poo, am just concerned that this may be malabsorption of something of other that may affect him later.

[abigail12]

Don't think it floats ( Im not sure,he goes to toilet on his own mostly, only see it when he's forgotten to flush)

[Karma1981]

I would still get your son tested, it's a blood test to see if you have markers if it is possitive then they would normally do the camra down the throat.
Like I said everyone that has celiacs would experience different symptoms, and children normally present more in the way of tummy problems,weight issues.

[abigail12]

Thank you karma, I'll definitely get him checked out.

[Karma1981]

No problem, if you need any more info then I'm happy to help.
Hope you get to the bottom of it.

[MsRainbow]

Pale smelly poo was the first symptom of coeliac disease that DS2 had. I didn't realise at the time, he was a perfectly healthy toddler, and probably had pale poo for over six months before he developed other symptoms.
Coeliacs are often have issues with lactose when first diagnosed and this often goes once the gut starts to heal itself on a GF diet.
It's interesting that you mention hyperactivity. The few times DS2 has inadvertently had gluten the first sign is he gets very hyperactive. I have come across some articles that link gluten to hyperactivity in children with sensitivity to gluten.
I would definitely insist on a coeliac test from your GP and as others have said don't cut out gluten unless advised to by a paediatric gastroentologist.

[abigail12]

The more I'm hearing the more likely i think it be be an I tolerance of some sort. Had to diagnose the lactose intolerance myself, Drs just fobbed me off at first saying he was just a baby who pooed a lot... But I think a parent knows themselves when something is not quite right.