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Tue, 5 Feb 2002 23:42:54 -0500 |
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probably have one of the most unusual questions you have ever heard here.
What is considered normal results in stool for culture test in breasfed
babies? I need numbers. Preferably for BF babies under 6 months. I have
numbers from Russian stool for culture tests. Although I would imagine they
should be somewhat different for BF and bottle-fed babies. Anyway, I have
no clue where the numbers come from. I have been intrigued and irritated by
this phenomenon in Russian babies for two years that I even went into
lengths of finding some research on stool flora of BF and bottle-fed babies
and ordering the whole article from Medscape. BF babies (according to the
article) had bacteria like Shigella and remained healthy and symptom free as
long as they were brestfed.
A year or so ago I posted a question here about a disease called
"dysbacteriosis". This mysterious condition exists predominantly in the
former USSR. It took be a LONG time to figure out what it is. The
condition is described by quality and quantity variations of intestinal
flora. It is said to be the cause of allergies, anemia, serious infectious
diseases and even delay of physical and mental development. You probably
will not find this condition in any of Western books. This all sounds great
maybe for an adult or some other group of people, but I seriously question
this diagnosis in BF babies. The usual treatment for this condition is
bacteriophages of various sorts and ferments (quite expensive).
Here how it is diagnosed. A BF baby has green stools. Or is "constipated".
In all cases a baby is thriving (gaining and developing just fine).
Sometimes a baby is too fussy. Or may have rashes (which can very well be a
systematic bacterial infection from the hospital. Staff is still a problem
in former USSR maternity units). Stool for culture is done. I understand
it is done in the West only when a baby is delivered to ER with acute
diarrhea. Then, they get same numbers that don't look "right". Treatment
is prescribed. I think to improve the results of stool for culture test.
In some cases a baby may have a true bacterial infection (rashes with pus,
eye infections, a mother may be infected too). Then it is treated with
kefir with bacteria (I am still talking newborns under 6 mo, frequently
under 3 mo). There is NEVER BF management evaluation. NEVER exploration of
a possibility of allergy.
I also have a big table of amounts of different bacteria in mothers milk
(with different numbers for right and left breasts) and degree of
dysbacteriosis in a baby. Milk for culture is another very popular test.
And, finally, a favorite topic. Lactose intolerance/Lactase deficiency.
Sugar in stool. The norm is (Russian) 0.25. What is it in the US ( I found
0.5-0.7, as well as a mention of as high as 2 in a thriving baby)? Most
babies are gaining fine. A lot of them don't even remotely seem lactase
deficient except for the "wrong" number in the test. What is the number
that would raise a red flag?
My suspicion based on what I have read is that it doesn't matter what the
numbers are. As long as a baby is gaining and developing fine and there are
no clinical symptoms of infection, don't fix it. I suspect that intestinal
flora can be changed because of allergies and damage of intestinal lining.
I also think because doctors don't know what is normal for a BF baby, normal
stools are mistaken for diarrhea. Or lack of those are considered
constipation. All of the above can be "normalized" with proper expensive
treatment.
I would very much appreciate any input of credibility of this "disease" in
BF babies. I am interested in "dysbacteriosis", stool for culture
discussion and numbers. This is not a post to generate allergy management,
oversupply management discussion.
Natalie Wilson.
LLL leader, NC, USA.
Helping with BF questions on a Russian parenting board as a private person.
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