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Hi and many, many thanks to the folks who responded to my query!

After I posted the note, I found a description of TD on the Pediatric
Database... it defined it as "a chronic non-specific diarrhea in an
otherwise healthy, thriving child which is benign and self-limiting."

I have my doubts that there is any such thing as a "benign" diarrhea!!!

It went on to say the problem involves 3-10 (usually <5) stool/day, occurs
twice as often in boys as girls, half the kids had infantile colic and it
"may be an early manifestation of irritable bowel syndrome."

I guess the big clue here was 'non-specific'-- many of you expressed your
irritation at professionals who slap a label on a syndrome that they don't
understand.

The Database did at least give some suggestions, which is more than my
pediatrician did: provide normal diet; may restrict fruit juices, excessive
water and cold foods (?!) but not milk or fats; may use psyllium or
methylcellulose as stool-firmers.

Your replies were much more helpful!!!!  Again, I thank you.  Here are the
results:

1. Four respondents indicated that their toddlers had achieved relief with a
GF diet --altho one wasn't exactly a toddler when finally diagnosed with CD
FOUR YEARS after the initial label of toddlers' diarrhea, irritable bowel,
etc.  (Now on a GF diet, it is hoped she will catch up on her growth.
Benign, my foot!)

Some of these noted that the slightest bit of gluten could give their child
"the runs."

One indicated a low-fat/fat-free diet had also helped her child.

2. Two specifically recommended seeing a pediatric GI.  I was cautioned
against going GF before testing.

3. Two noted my son's allergies and wondered if maybe we were overdoing
fruit juice to compensate for the milk allergy.  One mom with CD had a
daughter allergic to a million things and found watering down the juice, per
the advice of her pediatric GI, made "a world of difference."

4. One noted my yeast allergy and suggested that excess use of antibiotics
can leave room for a Candida (yeast) infestation.

5. Finally, one dad said that in New Zealand, any persistent diarrhea is
routinely treated for giardia, a single-celled organism common to water
supplies which can mimic CD, even causing lesions, is easily transmitted
through water, eating sand out of sandboxes, etc, and while the spores are
very hard to detect they are easily killed with a three-day course of Flagyl.

After comparing notes I thought the easiest thing to try first would be
cutting out the juice.  (Yes, I had been pouring it out mindlessly as if it
were milk!)

Lo and behold:  "Mommy!  I feel well.  I don't feel sick."

Music to my ears.  Not to mention the kid hasn't complained of a tummy ache
or had to run to the potty this weekend.

So I'm hoping this isn't just a lull in the storm.  But even if it is, at
least I have some concrete experience from y'all to draw on!  Sure beats
paying $50 to be told "it will probably go away by itself in a year or so."

God bless you all,

Jeanne

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The Holt Family.                      [log in to unmask]
Brendon, Jeanne, Brason and Braelyn.  Allen, Texas

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/6464/
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