Can a Preschooler Deliberately Withhold Poops for 3 Weeks?
Is it really possible for a preschool child to deliberately hold in his or her bowel movements for up to three weeks?
“If a preschooler truly has not had a BM for three weeks, I would be concerned and seek medical care immediately,” says Joel Gator Warsh, MD, of Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, Studio City, CA, and part of the pediatric staff of Cedars-Sinai Hospital. (more…)
Preschooler Excessively Thirsty but Does Not Have Diabetes?
Why is your preschooler so thirsty all the time, always asking for drinks, yet bloodwork is normal including for diabetes?
There was even a case in which a preschool aged child would get up in the middle of the night at least twice, asking for water, juice or milk.
She was drinking so much water throughout the day that she wasn’t eating as much as her mother thought she should.
One person proposed the theory that the preschooler was missing her bottle days, and was subconsciously coping with this by frequently asking for water and other drinks that had, in the past, come in her bottle.
By frequently drinking these from a cup or glass, the child was, in a sense, reconnecting with the security of a bottle. A mother in an online community proposed this theory.
But let’s face it, this theory is more than a little bit out in left field.
Behavioral Causes of Excess Thirst in a Child or Preschooler
“For a preschooler who is excessively thirsty and diabetes has been ruled out, my first thought would be a behavioral issue,” says Joel Gator Warsh, MD, of Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, Studio City, CA, and part of the pediatric staff of Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
“Consider how much attention they are getting for being thirsty. Does mom or dad come running with water or juice all the time when they call?”
Before you start wondering why a child who wants attention wouldn’t be constantly asking for food, this could be explained away by the very fact that usually, a parent is more apt to quickly respond to a request for water, juice or milk than for food.
“I want water!” conveys more of an urgency than “I want pretzels!”
How often do parents brush off a request for a snack, but promptly cater to a request for water, juice or milk? The child may have learned this early on and enjoys the quick attention.
Of course, this begs the question: If the child isn’t truly thirsty, how are they able to intake so much fluid unless the interior of the house is 90 degrees or they keep coming in from playing outside in the hot sun?
If only a few sips are taken, this is telling of a behavioral issue.
Dr. Warsh says, “Try the progressive extinction method and increase the time in between giving them drinks. Do not offer anything in between. It’s okay to say no.”
“Extinction” refers to the elimination of an undesirable behavior. The behavior is being maintained by its consequences.
The consequences in this case is the prompt attention from the parent.
This reinforces the behavior (begging for drinks all throughout the day and even night).
If this is your child’s worst behavior, you’re in luck; attention-seeking behavior can be a lot worse.
Medical Causes of Excessive Thirst in Young Child without Diabetes
“What is your child drinking?” begins Dr. Warsh. “If it is juice like apple juice, that can give your child diarrhea. They may be thirsty because they are mildly dehydrated from the diarrhea.”
This is a vicious cycle.
“They may also be addicted to the sugar in the drink you are giving.” Apple juice from the store, and other processed fruity drinks like Kool-Aid, are essentially liquid candy, loaded with sugar.
“Stop giving them any juice. They do not need it. Consider giving them only water or smoothies you make yourself from fresh, organic fruit.”
Carbonated beverages actually dehydrate, so if you’ve been giving your excessively thirsty child these, they will only momentarily quench thirst.
Dr. Warsh also says, “Check that they don’t have a dry mouth. They could have a vitamin or mineral deficiency such as B2 or B12.
“Are they taking any medications that could be drying up their supply of saliva?
“If you notice a very dry mouth, I would have some general bloodwork done to make sure your child is not deficient in important vitamins. Also check that they are not anemic and that their kidneys are functioning appropriately.”
Dr. Warsh and his Studio City, Los Angeles clinic treat a wide array of common pediatric issues using holistic and conventional treatments. He works with nutritionists, naturopaths, Ayurvedic practitioners, acupuncturists and more.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Freepik.com
Gigantic Poops in Children: Causes, Should You Worry?
Should you worry if your child’s poop is the size of a baseball?
Sometimes the huge size of a child’s bowel movements has their parents worrying that something is wrong. (more…)
Could an Enlarged Tonsil in a Child Mean Cancer?
Many parents immediately think of cancer when they notice that only one tonsil is enlarged in their child.
But there is another condition that the parent should immediately consider. (more…)
Cause of Bad Armpit Odor in Preschooler Other than Food
There are several conditions that can cause bad armpit odor in a preschooler, toddler or grade school child.
However, armpit odor in a toddler gets the most attention because, well, isn’t a toddler too young to have noticeable underarm odor?
“When toddlers eat certain foods, especially if they eat it all the time, their body can do funny things,” says Joel Gator Warsh, MD, of Integrative Pediatrics and Medicine, Studio City, CA, and part of the pediatric staff of Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
“Eat enough carrots and you might get an orange tinge to your skin.
“Certain foods can cause your child’s odor to change. If a child is sensitive to wheat, dairy, garlic or other foods, it can affect the armpit odor.
“Consider changing their diet and eliminating foods that are the most likely culprits.
“There is a condition called hyperhidrosis which causes excess sweating. Excessive sweating can lead to armpit odors.
“Consider an antiperspirant. Epsom salt baths have also been shown to help.
“If you notice any abnormal bumps in the armpits, especially if there is pain, swelling or redness, you should consider an infection of the sweat glands. You should see your physician to rule this out.
“If you are noticing other changes such as abnormal hair growth, sexual organ changes or voice changes [in a child younger than 10], it would be reasonable for your pediatrician to look into premature puberty.
“In rare cases, children younger than 8-9 can begin pubertal changes.
“Body odor could be the first sign. This would be an uncommon cause of early body odor but something you should rule out.”
Of course, pubertal changes wouldn’t occur in a toddler, but if you have a young grade schooler who has noticeable odor coming from the underarms, this may be a sign of early pubertal changes.
Dr. Warsh and his Studio City, Los Angeles clinic treat a wide array of common pediatric issues using holistic and conventional treatments. He works with nutritionists, naturopaths, Ayurvedic practitioners, acupuncturists and more.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: STUDIO GRAND WEB
Can Picking up Toddler by One Armpit Damage Shoulder Joint?
Many parents yank their toddlers up by an armpit.
Sometimes it’s done out of convenience for the parent, while in other cases it’s done out of anger. (more…)
Why Your Baby’s Head Smells Like Sweaty Feet or Dirty Socks
Your baby’s head should NOT be smelling like sweaty feet or, as some describe, dirty socks.
This means something is wrong. Any foul odor from your baby’s head or scalp is never normal. (more…)
Squeaky Noise from Anus when Pooping Hard Stools?
Did you hear a brief squeaky noise as you pushed a poop out your anus?!
The squeaky sound was generated by the mechanics of pushing the stool out the anal opening. (more…)
How Does Acid Reflux Cause Upper Back Pain?
Upper back pain has causes ranging from acid reflux to heart problems to a number of cancers.
Most back pain is caused by a musculoskeletal issue.
But for many people, acid reflux is behind their upper back pain. How is this possible?
“When acid is absorbed into the lining of the esophagus it can irritate nerves such as the vagus,” says Andrew Black, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology who’s based in Norman, OK.
“The pain signals travel to the brain on some common conduits which can also be used by other parts of the body (chest, back etc.), thus creating the sensation of pain arising from those areas.”
If back pain is sudden and searing, this would not be caused by acid reflux, but more likely a compressed nerve in the spine.
If back pain that’s sudden and severe occurs while you’re lifting or straining physically, then you can attribute this to a spasming or overloaded muscle.
However, back pain from lifting usually occurs in the lower portion.
However, if really bad back pain occurs in conjunction with chest pain, and especially also with nausea, sudden sweating and/or shortness of breath, this can signal a pending heart attack or one about to occur. Get to the ER.
Ripping or stabbing back and chest pain can signal a dissection of the heart’s aorta, which supplies blood to the body.
Don’t waste a second getting to an emergency room.
Acid Reflux and Upper Back Pain
Pain in the upper back caused by acid reflux would not be persistent; it would come and go (often related to eating certain foods) and also often be accompanied by heartburn or a slight burning sensation in the upper abdomen.
The symptoms would not be relieved by rest, since they are caused by the stomach’s acidic contents refluxing up the esophagus.
And here’s something to consider: It’s entirely possible to have two unrelated conditions that are causing your upper back pain:
One may be acid reflux and one may be any number of other conditions that can cause discomfort in the back, including some cancers.
Upper Back Pain from Cancer
Pain in the upper back from cancer can be caused by tumors affecting the spine, ribcage or surrounding tissues.
It might also result from a cancer that has spread. Tumor growth or spinal cord compression can lead to sharp, persistent pain.
Additionally, inflammation from cancer or its treatment can contribute to upper back pain.
You need to see your doctor if the discomfort or aching in your back persists despite trying conservative measures to eliminate it.
Dr. Black has presented many GI-related research papers at national conferences. He is an active member of Norman Regional Hospital, and West Norman Endoscopy Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She is also a former ACE certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Kaspars Grinvalds
Drinking a Lot of Water Causing Diarrhea: Solutions
Does drinking a lot of water give you diarrhea?
First of all, find out just how much water you’re drinking.
You may find that you’re taking in much more than you really need to.
Don’t mindlessly guzzle water to the point of frequently feeling bloated and making endless trips to the toilet.
You may be overestimating what “eight glasses a day” really should be. One glass is eight ounces. A tall glass is more than eight ounces.
Eight ounces = one cup, like a standard coffee cup. Two of these can fit into a typical tall glass.
To ensure you’re getting “eight glasses” a day (and certainly, nobody ever got sick by drinking only six glasses of water a day), fill a pitcher with the precise amount every morning.
Then drink your water entirely out of that pitcher. This way you won’t have to keep track of anything throughout the day. See if this helps calm your diarrhea.
If eight glasses (64 ounces or half a gallon) of water on a daily basis continue to give you diarrhea, you should see what happens by cutting back a glass or two.
Fill the pitcher with six, maybe even five cups’ worth. Give this plan several days to kick in.
Another Tactic to Try
“If one is experiencing loose stools due to high volume but not unreasonable water intake, try soluble fibers such as Benefiber/FiberCon, etc., to absorb some of the liquid,” recommends Andrew Black, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology who’s based in Norman, OK.
If diarrhea continues, maybe it is not water intake that’s causing it. You may have irritable bowel syndrome, microscopic colitis (a benign condition characterized by messy diarrhea) or some other condition.
Diarrhea may also be from very high fiber intake, but it should not be happening on a frequent basis.
Dr. Black has presented many GI-related research papers at national conferences. He is an active member of Norman Regional Hospital, and West Norman Endoscopy Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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