what can cause cronic loose stool in 10 year old child?

[JAGERSMOM]

My 10 year old daughter suddenly began having loose stools 4 weeks ago. She has had an abdominal xray which was clear, been treated for suspected parasites, had stool samples taken which all came back negative.  She is in terrific shape,  competitive gymnast,runs track and is very healthy in general.  She is a healthy eater as well.  

She is going to the bathroom approximately 5 times daily, watery and foul smelling. We have tried regulating her diet, pulled dairy, had her on rice, bananas, toast etc... Nothing seems to help. I just put her on Acidopholus supplements.  I welcome any ideas! Thanks. Jagersmom

[gnancyb]

Just a couple of thoughts for you....

Is she eating any sugar free products? Many sugar free products -- even sugar free gum in larger quantities, have been know to cause diarrhea

Second, I know that you stated that they have done cultures, but you may want to have her cultured again for clostridium difficile, more commonly referred to as c. diff. This bacteria typically makes people produce, foul smelling, liquidy stools and can last for a prolonged period of time. People typically get c. diff following a some type of antibiotic use. In this sense, your choice of probiotic use is a good idea. I work in an ER and we are seeing a more frequent emergence of c. diff in the community.

Best wishes. I am assuming as several months have passed that things are resolving for you? If things have resolved, it would be nice if you would share your final outcome. This site is great for information sharing, but people seldom share how they resolved their problems.

[boron]

Yellow probably means only that stool has travelled fast through the intestine.

Floating could be from fibres, but if it is also foamy and sticky (and as you said foul smelling) it could be from fats - because of fat malabsorption. Fat malabsorption is confirmed by a stool fat test.

If she has pain in some specific spot in abdomen (right upper abdominal crampy pain speak for gallbladder disease) - this would provide additional info.

Tests for parasites are often false negative...

[JAGERSMOM]

Thanks for the ideas on low fructose, I haven't really done anything with that. Will check into it.

  Her stool is typically yellow /light colored and floating.

[boron]

I guess you've probably tried low-fructose diet:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/21247?personal_page_id=801

Next to try is gluten-free diet.

Is stool sticky, floating and foamy?