Teenager soiled himself twice in four days. Pharmacist or GP?

[mumofthatone]

DS is 14. On Sunday had a painful stomach. Let out a fart and then soiled himself. His stomach hurt that day but was then fine Monday Tuesday.

This morning he's done the same thing and soiled himself again. The toilet he has been in smells like nothing I've ever smelt before and his stomach is really painful. If evil had a smell, this would be it!

Would you seek medical attention or see how things go?

Your poor DS. That must be horrible.
It’s likely that it’s nothing sinister, but I would still definitely call the doctor.
Hope he’s ok. My (completely non medical opinion) guess is constipation and that it will settle down, but get it checked out.

What's he been eating? Has he been constipated? I'd wait and see if it settled down. Bland diet perhaps for a few days.

Doctor. He needs a faecal screen to check for giardia or other infectious causes.
If clear then push for investigations for coeliac disease, bile acid malabsorption

@Veterinari not for a 4 day history he doesn’t. I’d give it at least a week as long as it’s not getting worse.

GP - pharmacist will refer you anyway. Don't let the reception staff fob you off with going to the pharmacy first.

As another poster said, they will prob ask for a stool sample to test.

Has he been anywhere he could.catch a stomach bug? If not I'd be more like to see a GP.

Get a Covid test.

DH and I both started out with rancid shits and stomach pain before losing sense of smell (which was a blessing at that point).

Two people I know with covid started with napalm shits.
I second a test.

@JensonsAcolyte

DH and I both started out with rancid shits and stomach pain before losing sense of smell (which was a blessing at that point).

Sorry that made me laugh.
Yes, my dm has terrible diarrhoea in January and is sure she had Covid.

Get a covid test first, if that's clear then request a poo test. Ulcerative colitis can also have a eye watering smell. Start him on probiotics as any virus or infection can throw the bacterial balance out.

The only medical advice you should listen to on here is to call an actual doctor.

Could be nothing, could be something, none of us know.

Ulcerative colitis springs to mind for me
Hope it gets sorted for him soon OP

Nurse on emergency bowel ward; doctors in am. Not normal for usually continent 14 to suddenly become fecally incontinent. I don't have anything to do with pediatrics but he would be admitted if an adult in my hospital.
Agree getting a covid test wouldn't be a bad shout. Any other symptoms in the family?
Is he having loose stool at other times in the toilet? Does he feel he has no control? Does he feel constipated? Does he have a temperature? Where is the pain in his abdomen? Is it constant or just following bowel movements?

Could be constipation with some overflow loose stool which is easily treated but if it was my boy I would want his stomach palpated.

[quote Scrunchies]@Veterinari not for a 4 day history he doesn’t. I’d give it at least a week as long as it’s not getting worse.[/quote]
You wouldn't consult a GP/advise a faecal screen for a history of diarrhoea so bad a teen is soiling himself?
Ok what is your advice then?
You seem to have missed out that component of your post.

@mumofthatone unbelievably, I was just about to post almost exactly this for my 15yo DS. He had a slight temperature last Friday, urgently pooed all weekend, couldn’t risk being away from a toilet, was fine Monday and Tuesday and is now back to very urgent pooing again. He’s getting trapped wind too. He suffered from constipation a couple of months ago and has now gone to the other end of the scale.

I’m giving it a week to see if it settles, assuming it’s a bug. Worrying though isn’t it.

Covid test definitely!!!
Also possibly Nora virus causes the most rancid weird poo smell!! The doctor knew years ago when I took one of the kids when they were babies and filled their nappy in there, just a thought, hope he is okay x

We had a bug once that started with a shart and the sharting lasted 2 or 3 days. I got it first and how they all laughed. Then the rest of the house went down with it, one by one.

My DS had an LFT on Monday which was negative.

This was also my first symptom of what turned out to be Covid! Last May. Stomach cramps & barely getting to the loo in time.

It’s definitely worth him having a Covid test to rule that out, but I would also speak to a GP.

Pharmacists are great for lots of ailments (and very highly trained) but I really don’t think your surgery would refer a 14 year old with these symptoms to a pharmacy.

Perhaps think before responding on a post by a newcomer about this?

@HollowTalk I'm a long term poster and MN can verify but thanks

@RagzReturnsRebooted

Has he been anywhere he could.catch a stomach bug? If not I'd be more like to see a GP.

The only place he has been himself is to his teenage vaccinations appointment the day before the first incident. Other members of the household have been to work but we are all fine.

@HollowTalk

Perhaps think before responding on a post by a newcomer about this?

Report if you’re concerned

OP, test for covid yes.

But this also happened to me a couple of times in reaction to something very high in fat - not often, but it would be uncontrolled! Eg fish and chips or mr whippy icecream

@JensonsAcolyte

Get a Covid test.

DH and I both started out with rancid shits and stomach pain before losing sense of smell (which was a blessing at that point).

Would you lie to get a test? Because he doesn't meet any of the criteria so I can't just get one I don't think. He was due to have a lateral flow test at school this week but hasn't been in due to the diarrhoea.