Seven year old with loose bowels for at least three weeks

[HappySeven]

I followed my DS into the bathroom a few weeks ago and asked him afterwards if he had diarrhoea as there was that smell you get with diarrhoea. He asked what I meant and said that yes he did have loose bowels. I told him to be extra careful when washing his hands as it would be a bug and no one else wanted it.

He's still got loose bowels and admits that he had it last year at school too. I asked whether they float and he said he uses toilet paper to weigh them down. My mum has coeliac disease and I'm thinking I need to get him tested but could it be a virus? Do they last several weeks? He seems well enough in all other ways and eats like a horse (but is whippet thin).

Sounds like getting him tested is a good idea. Could be something like giardiasis - that hangs around for weeks but is easoly sorted with drugs.

Thanks, I'm trying to get him a GP appointment but having the usual fun of being asked to call back later when they've released some more times as I don't think it's worthy of an emergency appointment and they've got nothing after Tuesday now. I'll google giardiasis and see if it fits.

Is he prone to constipation? My DD is and had diarrhoea for three weeks and it was actua her body clearing out a backlog of poo ifyswim!

hello I was just about to start a thread with almost identical title

Although my dd has been having loose stools for a couple of months, I haven't been unduly worried as she is so well in herself, appetite fine etc. I did take her to the g.p and have done a load of stool samples but they have all come back normal.

G.P did say kids sometimes go through a phase of having loose stools esp if they have had a big growth spurt, which would fit as dd has filled out and shot up over the summer.

So not sure of I should be worried or not, think might ring and g.p again as in dds words her poo still looks like a cowpat!!!

If your Mum has coeliac diseas, deaf get her tested. My DH hasit as does MIL and DH's uncle. It very commonly runs in families. Remember to not go gluten free until she is tested as this could give a false negative. You really need to know as her insides could be getting damaged by eating gluten if she has coeliac.

I'm pretty sure he's not constipated, reddaisy, but I'll check with him. Now he's seven I'm rarely aware of when he goes.

I can just see the GP's face when I ask for a test for coeliac, 2madboys, but I really think I need to know. If it's an infection then great and hopefully he'll pick up soon but if it's coeliac then you're right, the sooner we get him sorted the better.

I'm glad I'm not alone, girlie, although sorry about your daughter. My DS doesn't seem unwell in any other way either and has grown a bit recently but then he's a tall lad and very skinny and always has been. He eats like a horse but never gains weight - he's quite skeletal. Do you have anyone with coeliac disease in your family?

Happy - if you think the GP will be difficult either ask another one or you could try a home test? DH tested positive with one of these and we also used one for DS2 (ds1 was getting fortnightly blood tests at the time for another condition so the hospital did the coeliac test at the same time). Both the boys tested negative. The skinniness could also be related - if he's not getting the nutrition for his food. The GP told DH he would probably put on weight after going gluten free.

That's a good idea. I'll try the GP but if they're resistant to doing the test I'll get a home kit. One thing that's occurred to me is, if he has it and my mum does, surely I do too? I was tested at 14 but was found to be negative at that time. I know it's an autoimmune thing so I'm assuming you can have the gene and not show any problems until its 'triggered'?

Not sure about the genetics, but you should probably get tested and any other children too. DH's brother doesn't have it.

There is also the possibility (sorry) of bowel disease such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. If you are taking your DS to the GP then ask for tests for those too. Don't know if anyone in your family has either. Hopefully you can rule them out.

Sorry, missed that you had already been tested - we were told that although the boys don't have it now, they may get in the future. DH was diagnosed about 5 years ago, but looking back, I think he had it for at least 10 years before that. All those spicy foods that used to upset his stomach are suddenly fine when they don't involve naan bread or gluten containing pizza base! If you get a positive result on a home test kit the GP can't really ignore that.

No I don't have any relatives with coeliac I think in your position you should def talk to the g.p about it as seems a reasonable concern. I would hope the g.p would take it seriously tbh.

Hi, we've finally had our GP appointment and so I thought I'd report back for anyone who's interested.

She was really nice and was nodding as I said 'my mum's got coeliac disease' as though she was already considering it as an option. Anyway, we've got to get a stool sample (should be fun!) and we're seeing the nurse later for a blood test. We're to go back in 2 weeks for the results.