3 1/2 mo old girl - 15 straight days of diarrhea - causes?

[johnsonelee]

My daughter turns 4 mos old tomorrow and she has had diarrhea for just over 2 weeks...she has had a stool sample tested and it came negative for the standard viruses and parasites...she is a formula fed baby...she has been eating Similac Advance and the doctor told us to try the soy based version with the same results...she has had no fever and she still takes full bottles at every feeding...she is not dehydrated....any ideas what could be causing this persistent diarrhea?...is a protein or milk allergy a possibility?

Thanks,
Lee
South Carolina

[ggreg]

Another idea, If she was consuming a forumla different from Similac Advance BEFORE, doesn't matter how long ago she switched to that, try going back to the "old" stuff.  Also, write down everything you can think of that she drinks besides formula, like juices and such.  If there was an addition of some things, say, as long as a month ago, then whatever those things are, stop those, too.  Get her all the way back to where she was when she turned three months old.  She may be allergic in some way to something she is consuming.  

A few other things.  She needs to have her blood drawn, if they haven't done that already.  By the way, even though she's drinking full bottles, that doesn't automatically mean she's not dehydrated... she would have to be dehydrated, simply from the action of the diarhhea.  I might also mention stuff you already know, but just to be sure, very hot weather can affect everybody's indigestion... even at this website, adult postings have picked up threefold since the weather got hotter, so baby has to be kept at a reasonable temperature all the time.  And again, nothing new, but make sure her activity levels are completely down before you give her the bottle.  

[utahmomma]

See if there is a pediatric GI that you could get her into - quickly!   Also, talk to the pediatrician about supplementing her with pedialite - she is probably more dehydrated than the formula can compensate for.

[margypops]

It could certainly be a milk allergy and you should go back to your Doctor for more answers,I doubt if you have her on solids yet so it has to be the Milk she is drinking, perhaps you have to change it and see.