Baby with Fever and White Stools.......

Updated on October 25, 2011
S.R. asks from Houston, TX
16 answers

My 19 month old has a 101 degree temperature and white cottage cheese looking stools- What is this?

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

3 moms found this helpful

★.O.

answers from Tampa on

I'd go to the ER right away... light tan to white bowels means the bile isn't being released into the digestive system. Couple that with the fever - sounds like something big. Better safe than sorry

3 moms found this helpful

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M.M.

answers from Tucson on

Call the doctor right now. Could be liver problems. The white poop is number 1 sign of that.

4 moms found this helpful

G.M.

answers from Phoenix on

If you haven't already, go to the ER right now. Something is going on with your baby. Could be the liver....not enough iron...and with a fever on top of that....White stools are never good.

Please come back and tell us what the ER Doc says ok? :-)

3 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I wish I could say something positive. I remember that when I had my first child I received A LOT of advice from my baby's pediatrician. A lot of the advice has stuck with me, one of them being black or white stools are NOT good... My advice is seek medical attention soon.

Here's a link: http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_white-stool-childr...

3 moms found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Portland on

Sounds like a digestive problem, possibly an infection. But the symptom snapshot is too sparse for anything other than a "sounds like, maybe," and you really need to talk to a doctor, not a mom-board. Your pediatrician may have an on-call doctor or nurse to take after-hours calls.

2 moms found this helpful

J.B.

answers from Houston on

Well you are probably a little freaked by now, but yeah, a trip to the ER is very warranted and I wish you and your little one all the best. I just prayed for you guys, keep us posted...

2 moms found this helpful
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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

this is what I found-----

get a stool sample that is less than an hour old. and it cant be from a disposable diaper it will contaminate it. use a cloth of either a clean wash cloth or if you cloth diap use that.

Pale or white bowel movements by children can be an unusual sight and an immediate cause for alarm, and in many cases that concern is valid. The causes of white stool in kids are many, and figuring out if your child has a serious problem should be a priority. Feces can appear in many different colors and still be normal and there is no need for panic. Listed below are some possible causes of white stool.

Bile Duct Cysts

Sometimes cysts form on the bile ducts, according to wringdiagnosis.com. Although this is rare, the presence of these cysts can block the flow of bile from the liver into the gallbladder and keep the digestive fluid from reaching its destination. Bile is the substance in the body that gives feces its typical brown or green color and could explain the white stool.


Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an infection of the liver. Hepatitis A is a disease caused by a virus that inflames the liver and causes it to function improperly, according to the Mayo Clinic. By not functioning properly, the liver may fail to produce the amount of bile needed for proper digestion and therefore may cause pale or white stool. In most cases Hepatitis A will be mild and require little if any treatment, but it is best to see a physician to find out if your child has this infection and not a more serious case of hepatitis such as type B or C which can lead to cirrhosis and be fatal.


Malabsorption

Malabsorption happens when the body is unable to properly digest nutrients. This may be the result of dozens of different conditions, according to Wrongdiagnosis.com. Pale or white stool may result as an indicator that the child is not being supplied with all the proper vitamins and minerals.


Biliary Atresia

Medical website Medline Plus defines Biliary Atresia as a blockage of the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder, which produces an identical reaction as the aforementioned cysts. This condition is congenital, meaning it is present from birth. This blockage, if not treated, can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which is deadly.


Considerations

While these are potential answers to why white stool occurs, there are dozens of other possibilities ranging from the very serious to the very minor. Consult your pediatrician and, if possible, take a diaper with a stool sample for the doctor to see since what may just be a change in bowel activity for your child may be normal in the big picture.

Read more: White Stool in Children | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_white-stool-childr...

2 moms found this helpful
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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I am saying a prayer for your baby! Please take your baby to the ER now. The white stools are NOT normal and should be evaluated immediately. Bring the stool sample with you so they can test it. Best wishes and let us know what happens.

M

2 moms found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Omaha on

I think white-ish stools are associated with something going on with the liver, so get it checked out asap. I would call the on-call nurse or take your child to urgent care. I did have a dumb blonde moment with something like this when my son was an infant. I noticed white in his stools one time and called the doctor's office. They just told me to keep an eye on it since he didn't have any other symptoms. After I hung up I realized it was desitin on the poop! Are you sure it isn't something like that? Good luck and God Bless!
A.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

ER...NOW!!!

My son's Dr. told me white stool are always something to be dealt with ASAP.

1 mom found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I just read something about the color of stools and what they mean in a Parenting magazine earlier this evening, white was one of the colors that required seeing a doctor ASAP, as white stools can be associated with a liver problem.

Praying for your little one, please get him or her to the ER if you haven't already.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Please call the doctor right away. White stools are very concerning.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Las Vegas on

Call your pediatrician tonight or go to a peds ER. I don't know what causes white stools in children, but I do know that in adults it is a biliary/liver issue. This symptom accompanied by a fever has me worried even if you were talking about an adult. You need to find out where the source of infection is coming from. Also, is it diarrhea or clay-like?

1 mom found this helpful

E.M.

answers from St. Joseph on

it is a trip to the emergency room. do you have a childrens hospital close to you? if so, go NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! this is very serious. anytime you have something like this you call the doc immediately and/or go to the ER!!

1 mom found this helpful
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H.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

for us this would be the tummy bug...but ER never hurts....if you are puking in a few days it was the tummy bug

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