Seeking Advice from Mom's Who Are Familiar W/ Kawasaki

hey M. -
my sister taught me (she is a childcare specialist) to treat diarrhea with BRAT: Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast (at least i think it was Toast) so limit his diet to those items until his stool hardens up a bit -
also, the very best rash-cream i've ever found (also reccomended by my sister) is Balmex (i'd reccomend investing in the tub of it (around $17 or so) because you're going to LOVE it!!! i'd say skip the soaking baths because the idea is to keep the rash DRY, no matter what else you've heard -
good luck and good job, mama!
smiles,
S.

Hi M.- Don't have any advice on the Kawasaki but just wanted to say I don't think there is anything wrong with asking advice here for medical issues of any kind. I am very lucky to have a family doctor that will consult via the phone and it's great for things like diaper rash or general questions that don't require him to see the child. I know most doctors would insist on a time consuming and expensive visit for any advice given at all. Doctors don't have ALL the answers ALL the time and as long as your not using the internet in serious or emergency situations it is a great way to gain knowledge and strategies that have worked for others. It looks like you have several responses that offer ideas for treating the symptoms you describe. Just be sure to go to the Doctor if the diarrhea persists as babies can dehydrate easily. Good luck and hang in there!

I would keep giving the rice cereal, but skip the oatmeal (my daughter has always had constipation issues and I was told to skip the rice cereal). Bananas back up kids and I think apples. If you are ready, I would introduce yogurt so she can get the probiotics in it that helps with rashes.
I would also recommend not using baby wipes until it heals. Use a warm wash cloth or rinse the baby wipes. They are so full of chemicals that it stings when you use them on a rash.
Best of luck!
C.

Your pediatrician is most familiar with Kawasaki disease, and also knows the best way to treat diarrhea, as well. For the life of me, I cannot understand why so many otherwise reasonable people ask for medical advice from strangers on the Internet. CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN! If your pediatrician does not have time to answer your questions, then GET A NEW PEDIATRICIAN!!

Hi M.

I think for diarrhea at this age you stick to breast milk or formula. I have always yours breast fed my little ones during this time.

For diaper rash I got a great tip from a nurse a couple of weeks back, when my daughters but was bleeding due to the diaper rash. She said to put on the diaper rash creme and then a lot of corn starch. I was kind of skeptical first, but since corn starch absorbs a lot a water it is great. It keeps the area very dry and it especially works when they poop again as it makes the poop drier. I used a it a couple of times now and normally it takes care of the rash in less then 24h.
I have to admit it can be a little bit messy when you sprinkle it on, but since it is harmless I am not worried about it.

Good luck.

Dear M. C,

I have absolutely NO knowledge of Kawasaki, but... I thought I would try to help with one problem you had mentioned?

I know this advice is going to sound strange... but, it really does work.

A long while back my ex-husband (when we weren't ex's).... he had a friend, who took care of her grand-daughter an awful lot. The grand-daughter would have bouts of diaper rash, and the pediatrician had recommended 'BAG BALM'... they sell it in some pharmacies, and in another really 'odd' place.... wal-mart.... carries it...(in all places.... (the pet department)! Why? It's not slated for 'human use'.... it's marketed toward farmers and their cows, to cure rashes and problems on cow utters!

It comes in a green cube-like square (old-fashioned tin).... it looks a little like vaseline when you open it up.... but, I swear to you, it can even clear up a bleeding rash in a day of continual use (at every diaper changing).... it's awesome and grand stuff!

I truly hope that advice helps!

Another thing you can try is oatmeal baths.... but, it's time consuming, and it doesn't work as fast!

btw, I'm a mother of 5 so I really do have a lot of experience, and I'm not lying to you.... look for the stuff, it's awesome!

Sincerely,

Becky

Has she been tested for celiac disease? Most oats contain gluten and it is found in formulas as well. She could get gluten from your breast milk. Important to check into. You may want to be sure she is getting no gluten in her diet and see if the diarrhea improves. I'm not sure if she has any other symptoms but let me know if you need any help with researching this.

Hi M.,
My 7mons.old son was also diagnosed w/KD 3wks. ago, currently still on high dose aspirin. He'd also gone through a second tx of the IVIG within the first week and a half. The first tx of the IVIG didn't helped so he needed a second one. KD symptoms appear in phases. Second phase of the disease may develop diarrhea..Go to mayoclinic.com and type in Kawasaki Disease..i find their info very informative. It has helped us understand it better and what to watch out for.

My son had Kawasaki's when he was 18 months old (we didnt know it was that until a month or two later when my cousin, an army pediatric cardiologist recognized the symptoms I'd described to my family, along with the picture of my son's rash... what luck!) Anyway.... I dont remember diahrrea being part of the experience but it wouldn't be surprising because that often happens with antibiotics (be sure to give her yogurt for the "pro" biotics to rebalance her digestive system)

Just wanted to reassure you that I dont think it's directly caused by kawasaki's, just the antibiotics from it. Go ahead and treat her poor little bum.

And a side note. Allergies can pop up even though nothing new was introduced recently because sometimes something can be overdone to the point the body becomes overwhelmed with it and then can no longer tolerate it. Foods, even pets(personal experience with this one) etc. Moderation in all things. I dont think allergies is the case here tho, seeing you've just been on antibiotics.

Ease up on the fruits while your daughter has a sore bum since fruit are high in acids and sure does not feel good!

M.,

My baby had a terrible rash after antibiotics. After every surgery and round of antibiotics I gave him and continue daily to give him probiotics. They have probiotics for babies. i just give our little guy the same one we use. Either way, our surgeon (who knows absolutely nothing about nutrition) was amazed at how quickly the rash clears up when the body gets back in balance. Cream or not, the rash is probably a sign of something out of balance. Considering your baby has had medical treatment recently, the out of balance theory is likely.
All the solutions we've found for our baby have come from other moms and me researching on the internet. If I solely relied on our doctors, our baby would be absolutely miserable right now and in very poor health. Doctors are great but they don't know everything. And they are starting to admit that they never studied anything other than drugs and treatments. So when the drugs and treatments are done, moms need to figure out the rest.
Good luck!

Hi M.-

I am sorry to hear your son has been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. Although I don't know anything about it, I did want to pass along a miracle remedy for diaper rash. My sister is a daycare teacher at a hospital, and one of her parents (who is a also a pediatrician) gave her this formula for diaper rashes.

½ tube of A&D ointment

½ tube zinc oxide

1 tbls. Bacitracin or Polysporin (not Neosporin)

1 tbls. Maalox or Mylanta

Good luck!