How to properly submit feces for coprogram? How to properly collect feces? Types of stool tests How to pass a stool test if.

Many people wonder what a stool test is, and why is it needed, and is it possible to detect serious diseases through such diagnostics? The analysis is carried out in order to study the state of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system as a whole.

Why is stool diagnostics needed?

In its normal state, feces have an amorphous consistency and consist mainly of the remains of foods consumed by humans. In a healthy person, only food residues are visible in the feces, since the stomach does not always completely digest all the food. The presence of inclusions such as blood, mucus, or changes in the color and consistency of stool is a good reason to seek help from specialists. Usually, to identify the true cause of the disease, doctors suggest taking stool for analysis. In medicine, such an analysis is called a coprogram. This research method requires special preparation, and also allows you to identify the exact cause of the following stable conditions:

• Feeling of nausea, open vomiting
• Blood in feces
• Flatulence
• Belching accompanied by an unpleasant odor and aftertaste
• Painful symptoms in the stomach
• Dysbacteriosis

Coprogram as a research method carefully studies the components of stool and gives an objective assessment of the patient’s health status. Thanks to the results of the coprogram, the specialist will be able not only to find out about the cause of the disease and make an accurate diagnosis, but also to prescribe an adequate treatment method.

Preparing for the test is as important as the diagnosis itself. Therefore, the following recommendations have been developed:

1. Feces must be collected in the morning. Immediately before collection, be sure to carry out hygiene procedures for the genitals and anus using soap. Excretions, blood, drops of urine from the genitourinary organs should not get into the biomaterial, and fecal fragments should not be collected from the toilet - this can qualitatively affect the results.
2. If stool is taken for the study of occult blood, then a few days before its collection, special preparation of the body is required, namely, to refuse to eat foods containing large quantities. The day before the test, stop taking medications so as not to provoke chemical coloring of the stool.
3. If the test is intended to identify microbes and infections that provoke dysbacteriosis, then it would be advisable to adhere to a strict diet for several days. Only in this way will the coprogram be able to determine what is the main cause of dysbiosis - infection or malnutrition.

Basic principles of stool collection

In order to obtain accurate results, stool must be collected taking into account the following preparation knowledge:

• The sample must be obtained naturally; the use of any laxatives and enemas is prohibited.
• Preparation for collecting feces should begin with a sterile stick and utensils. It is recommended to store the collection only in sterile containers.
• For the test, you only need a fresh stool sample. The optimal time from collection to the moment of sending to the laboratory should be no more than 3-4 hours, since after 4 hours the microbiological composition of stool changes. Store in a cool place.
• Do not pick up feces from the toilet. Living microorganisms on the walls of the toilet will end up in the feces, which will affect the results of the coprogram. It is better to empty yourself in a clean bag or potty. You can also put cling film over the toilet.
• To identify worms and their eggs, it is necessary to take several samples, that is, collect feces from 2-3 feces.
• During menstruation, refuse to take tests. If it is necessary for health reasons, then you need to use a tampon so that blood does not get into the sample.

Many people wonder how much stool should be collected for one sample? Experts say that 10-15 grams of feces is enough.

Dishes for collecting feces

Before you begin submitting biomaterial for laboratory examination, you also need some preparation. Today you can purchase sterile containers for donating stool at any pharmacy. Special containers are characterized as sterile containers; they can be glass or plastic. The container is sold complete with a lid and spatula. If it is not possible to purchase a container at a pharmacy, then you can store the collection in a small bottle with a lid, which must first be thoroughly rinsed and dried.

Before submitting the biomaterial to the laboratory, it is recommended to store it in a tightly closed container at a temperature not exceeding +5 degrees. If the room is hot, then the biomaterial must be stored in a cool place, since there is a possibility that active processes of fermentation and proliferation of putrefactive bacteria will begin in the biomaterial.

If feces are donated to determine dysbacteriosis, then the collection can take place at any time of the day, so the question arises of how long the biomaterial can be stored in the refrigerator. The answer to this question is simple - no more than a day.

By following these simple rules for collecting biomaterial, you can submit a high-quality sample to the laboratory, which will reveal the cause of the disease.

Many patients ask how many days does it take to diagnose a biomaterial? Experts say no more than a day.

Basic indicators of feces

The main signs by which the study is constructed and deviations from the norm are determined:

• Consistency
• Smell
• Presence of protein
• White blood cell level

Let's look at each of these signs separately.

• Color. A reddish tint to feces indicates ulcerative or cancerous diseases. Moreover, blood may be present in the feces. Yellow color indicates a disruption of the digestive process, the presence of infection and dysbacteriosis. Black color is a sign of bleeding or the presence of blood clots in the stomach cavity. Light yellow is a sign of hepatitis and pancreatitis. White color indicates blockage of the bile duct.
• Consistency. Loose stools are associated with the presence of inflammatory processes, dysbiosis and hypersecretion of the mucous membrane in the small intestine. Pasty feces indicate cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Dense feces indicate the presence of stenosis or inflammation of the colon. The colon begins to store processed food material, resulting in constipation and dense masses of feces.
• Smell. A weak odor is associated with disorders such as accelerated evacuation or insufficient digestion. In the presence of an ulcer, the smell of feces is characterized by a putrid odor. A sour smell will indicate problems with the pancreas and the presence of blood in the stool.

Presence of protein and level of leukocytes in stool

Another factor used to determine intestinal dysfunction is the presence of protein and the level of leukocytes. In a healthy person, there are no proteins or leukocytes in the stool. The presence of such inclusions may indicate quite serious diseases; here is a small list of the most famous ones:

• Cracks in the rectum
• Chronic hemorrhoids,
• Oncological diseases
• Gastritis
• Polyps
• Cirrhosis
• Dysbacteriosis

Regarding the high level of leukocytes, this indicates the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the digestive system. To identify the localization of the inflammatory process, correct bacteriological diagnosis is necessary. If you apply both methods to study the gastrointestinal tract, you can get results that will reveal a number of diseases such as:

1. State of infectious dysbacteriosis
2. Disorders of the intestine, both small and duodenal
3. Presence of colitis
4. Inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract
5. Impaired liver function
6. Unstable pancreas function
7. Rapid passage of products and their removal from the stomach and intestines, skipping the digestion process.

The effectiveness of the scatological method of studying stool analysis has been clinically and scientifically proven, based on examinations and interviews with a large number of patients who have undergone such a study and note that they have been completely cured of both simple and complex chronic diseases of the esophagus.

Instructions

You should stop taking certain medications for several days before submitting stool for analysis. Thus, activated carbon turns stool black, rectal suppositories change its composition, and drugs with pilocarpine affect peristalsis. In addition, two days before the test, X-ray contrast studies of the gastrointestinal tract should not be performed, since the special liquid that must be taken turns the stool white and changes its composition.

Feces for intestinal dysbiosis must be collected before treatment with chemotherapy and antibacterial drugs. If they have already been taken, it is necessary to maintain a 12-hour break between the last dose of the drugs and the collection of stool for culture.

Feces for analysis must be obtained through natural bowel movements. You should not have an enema or take a laxative. Otherwise, the composition of the stool will be disrupted, and the analysis results will be erroneous.

Before donating stool, it will be useful to follow a diet. You should not eat a lot of foods that cause increased gas formation, appearance or diarrhea. You also should not eat beets and other foods that can color the stool.

During menstruation, it is advisable for women to avoid submitting stool for analysis. If this is necessary, you should use a tampon to prevent blood from getting into the stool.

The stool sample should be brought to the laboratory in a glass or plastic container. The best option is to purchase a special container that contains a convenient spatula for collecting feces.

The fresher the sample, the better. You should not defecate in the evening if the test will be submitted to the laboratory only in the morning. To obtain reliable results, you need to have time to deliver the stool to the laboratory within 4-6 hours after its collection. Over time, the microbiological composition of stool changes, which can affect the test results.

Before collecting stool, you should urinate to ensure that no urine gets into the sample. It is better to collect stool in a bedpan, which should be dry and clean. You can pre-treat it with any disinfectant, for example, chlorhexidine. Boiling water is also suitable for these purposes. Some people make the mistake of defecating directly into the toilet and collecting feces from there. It is undesirable to do this, since the cleanliness of the toilet is far from ideal.

Direct stool collection should be done as follows: take a little stool from different places of fresh feces and place it in a container. A teaspoon will be enough. The container with feces must be tightly sealed and labeled. It can be stored in the refrigerator.

A urine test is taken to identify diseases in the body. A general analysis immediately shows what deviations there are, but only if the urine is collected correctly. If this is done at the wrong time, the result may be false and treatment of the disease may be delayed indefinitely. This type of study should be carried out twice a year, and regularly for pregnant women.

Video on the topic

Helpful advice

Try not to consume fatty foods, alcohol or medications in the evening. The analysis will show an inaccurate result and you will have to retake it.

Submitting stool for analysis is a fairly common procedure for young children. Examination of stool makes it possible to determine disturbances in the functioning of the internal systems of the body. Collecting feces from infants can cause serious difficulties for parents, since the baby does not yet know how to use the potty. There are some tricks that are designed to make this task easier.

Container for collecting feces

Stool is collected in a sterile container. It can be purchased at any pharmacy. Containers with a spoon attached to the lid are now available for sale. They are very convenient to use.
An alternative option is a small glass jar. It must be washed well and doused with boiling water.

Stool collection

The most common way to collect stool is from a diaper. Pediatricians recommend using a disposable gauze diaper for this purpose. After your baby poops, carefully scrape the material off the surface of the diaper. You can use a potty to collect feces if the baby has already been placed on it. After six months, children make it clear that a bowel movement is approaching, and an attentive adult can catch this moment. Rinse the pot well and pour boiling water over it.

Collect hard or soft stool using a spoon attached to a sterile container. You can also use another item, such as a disposable plastic spoon. It is recommended to collect different portions: from the center, top and bottom. It will be enough to collect feces in volume equal to an incomplete teaspoon.

Collecting loose stool is much more difficult. For this purpose, medical oilcloth is used. Spread it under the child. A pediatric urine bag can also be used to collect liquid stool. It is sold in pharmacies. This is a small plastic sterile bag. It has a hole for collecting analysis and an adhesive tape with which the urine bag is attached to the baby’s body. When your baby poops, pour the collected mixture into a container.

How to store collected material

It is recommended to submit a fresh analysis for examination. However, getting the baby to do it at the agreed time is quite difficult. Therefore, the analysis can be stored in the refrigerator (no more than 12 hours). Please note that only fresh stool can be tested for dysbacteriosis and pathogenic microflora. You can use methods to stimulate the bowel movement process to collect analysis in a timely manner.

How to stimulate bowel movements

It helps to induce bowel movements. One end of it is lubricated with rich cream and inserted into the baby's anus. After the release of gases, the intestines are empty. If the attempt is unsuccessful, you can repeat the action after 15 - 20 minutes.
Give your baby a stimulating massage. Using warm hands, gently massage the tummy around the navel in a clockwise direction. At the same time, periodically press the baby’s legs to the tummy. For severe constipation, another massage is used. Place three fingers on the baby's tummy around the navel. The middle finger is above the navel, the index and ring fingers are below (they should be at the same level). A triangle should form. Massage these points in a clockwise direction.

Many people do not seriously think about the importance of this type of analysis such as feces. But it is precisely the results of this analysis that most often reveal various malfunctions in the digestive system. And sometimes the incorrect collection of this analysis can significantly affect the results, making them incorrect.

Everyone knows how to take a stool test correctly and even where to take a stool test. Many people simply know that they need to collect it in the evening and take it to the hospital. But everything is a little more complicated. So the analysis can be collected in the evening and submitted to the clinical laboratory the next morning. But before you start collecting stool for analysis, you should prepare for the procedure itself. To do this, you need to adhere to a special diet for two days, in which all fish and meat dishes are excluded.

Also during the preparation period, it is advisable to exclude beets, tomatoes and all green vegetables from the diet. For two days before the test, you can eat cereals, potatoes, fruits and dairy products. If you are taking medications, it is also advisable to stop taking them for this period, until the evening of the analysis.

It is worth remembering that if the digestive system has been examined using radiology and barium, then it is impossible to take a stool test right away.

Before taking a stool test after procedures such as radiology, an enema, or a colon examination, you must wait until two days have passed. These procedures have a significant impact on stool analysis. In order for the test to be carried out correctly, and therefore the result to be obtained without error, you should definitely postpone the delivery of stool for several days.

When about two days have passed after the research, during which only acceptable foods and vegetables were used in the diet, you can proceed directly to the analysis. To do this, you will need a jar for feces; this type of element is now sold in any pharmacy. It also comes with a special small spatula, which allows you to take the required volume of feces for analysis.

How to collect a stool test

In order to properly collect stool, you cannot use laxatives or enemas. It is necessary for defecation to occur naturally.

There are several rules applied in collecting this type of analysis:

• It all starts with cleaning your bladder. This procedure is necessary to reduce the likelihood of drops of urine getting into the stool. Since urine, like other types of liquids, can distort the result;
• In order to pass the test correctly, you should wash your genitals well with liquid or regular soap. Then, to remove moisture, blot your intimate areas with a towel. These actions are necessary in order for the analysis to be completed correctly, without the presence of unnecessary elements in it, even if it is just water;
• After washing the genitals, it is not advisable to wear underwear. Since the microelements of washing powder or soap present in it can also distort the final result;
• Only a closed jar made of glass or plastic can be used to collect stool. The volume of feces required for a complete study is approximately 5 grams, that is, about a teaspoon.

It is worth noting that, despite the obligatory washing of the genitals before donating feces. In a situation where it is necessary to submit a scraping for enterobiasis, there is no need to do this on the contrary. Only in this case, the result is guaranteed to be correct.

Some people collect analysis directly from the toilet. This cannot be done; even a well-chlorinated toilet bowl will not be able to protect the feces that enter it from microbes that persist in water and urine. Therefore, before taking a stool test, you should take care of where exactly this can be done. If you don’t have a regular pot, you can collect the analysis correctly using regular cling film. It must be pulled well onto the toilet seat.

More often a plastic jar is used to collect the analysis than a glass one. It is advisable to collect the analysis in the evening. Since the shelf life of the analysis is a maximum of 6 hours. Of course, it is not always possible to collect the desired analysis from the first evening. But you should not stimulate or take laxative products. Moreover, within a few days it will be possible to collect feces naturally in the evening.

Not everyone knows how to collect stool for analysis, but the correctness of this procedure determines how accurate the results will be and, consequently, the doctor’s diagnosis.

A stool test can be prescribed for both adults and children, including infants.

From the article you will learn how to properly collect material for research, how long you can store it before submitting it, as well as some features of this analysis.

Like almost any other analysis, stool examination requires certain preparation from both the adult and the child in order to collect suitable material that will help the doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

There is nothing complicated in preparing for a stool test; it begins a few days before the examination itself.

The most important thing you need to know is that the process of defecation must be natural, otherwise the analysis will be useless, because the results will be unreliable.

This means that enemas and laxatives should not be used to speed up bowel movements, even if the person is constipated.

This is important for most types of examination - if feces were obtained using additional means, the period of its formation in the intestines will be significantly reduced, so it may lack many elements indicating certain pathologies.

For example, starch and fat found in the remains of undigested food often indicate that a patient has pancreatitis, but these elements can only be detected if the feces were formed naturally.

You should stop using laxatives and enemas not only during the last bowel movement, but also 3-4 days before the examination - this will improve the quality of the material and make it easier for the doctor to make a diagnosis.

Other factors can also make the coprogram unreliable, for example, taking medications, especially those that affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

These include not only laxatives, but also any tablets that affect the processes of digestion and absorption of food.

If the patient is taking any necessary medications that cannot be temporarily stopped, then you should definitely notify the attending physician about this.

An X-ray examination of the intestines and stomach carried out the day before will make the coprogram completely unreliable, so you need to take the test at least 2 days after it.

To make the result of a stool analysis more reliable, as well as to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, patients are recommended to follow a simple diet 2-3 days before the test: give up fatty, fried and spicy foods, replacing them with dairy products, fresh fruits, eggs, cereals and other easily digestible dishes.

How to collect biomaterial?

Is it correct to collect biomaterial in the evening? Regardless of what problem the analysis is prescribed to identify (dysbacteriosis, hidden feces, helminths, etc.), there are rules for collecting feces that must be followed in order to obtain reliable results.

The rules for collecting material are the same for children, including infants, and for adults.

First of all, you need to prepare a suitable container: theoretically, you can collect the material in a home jar, but before that it will have to be boiled and calcined, which will take a lot of time.

Doctors advise using special containers for collecting feces, sold in pharmacies - they are not only much more convenient, but also provide greater tightness and sterility, which is not easy to achieve with homemade dishes.

In addition, along with the container, the set includes a special spoon for collecting material, which is very convenient to use.

It is necessary to collect stool for dysbacteriosis, worms and suspicions of other diseases from several places.

This is important because the elements are not uniformly distributed: when analyzing for worms, eggs can only be found in a separate place, and not throughout the entire material.

If you see an admixture of blood, mucus or other features in some place in the stool, then the material for analysis should be taken from it, since this may indicate a disorder more serious than dysbiosis or helminth eggs.

Before collecting stool for analysis, it is better for children and adults to empty the bladder in advance so that urine does not get into the material and distort the coprogram.

Blood in the stool will also affect the results of the examination, so it is not recommended for women to take this test during menstruation - it is best to wait until it is over.

Depending on whether you are submitting materials for dysbacteriosis, worm eggs or other pathologies, you need to provide it at a certain time.

In most cases, the material can be collected one day in advance and stored in the refrigerator until the morning, after which it can be taken for research.

This is especially convenient for newborns who cannot go to the toilet at a certain time, but even in this case the material should be stored for no longer than 12 hours.

For older children and adults, it is best to collect stool not in the evening, but in the morning, immediately before the procedure - this will help the doctor make the correct diagnosis.

In addition, there are cases when material collected in the evening is simply not suitable: for example, for testing for dysbiosis, feces must be delivered for analysis 2-3 hours after receipt, otherwise the results may be unreliable.

How much material needs to be collected is another question that worries many.

This figure will be the same for an infant, a child, and an adult: to conduct an adequate study for the presence of any pathology, approximately 10 g of material or two spoons included in the analysis collection kit will be sufficient.

Indications for testing

Stool analysis is a simple and safe procedure, so it can be prescribed if a variety of pathologies are suspected, but all of them, as a rule, are associated with problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

For infants, analysis is often prescribed if dysbiosis is suspected, which is quite common in children of this age.

For an older child, an analysis may also be prescribed if dysbacteriosis or worm eggs are suspected, which often appear in children due to insufficient hygiene.

For adults, this analysis is necessary for similar suspicions, as well as when there are any disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract: problems with the pancreas, liver, intestines, stomach, etc.

If a child or adult has not been diagnosed with a disease that requires a stool test to track the progress of treatment, the doctor can often prescribe this test if any pathology is suspected.

Often, stool analysis becomes the primary study, during which a reliable diagnosis can be made.

For example, dysbiosis at different stages can be suspected if the patient experiences symptoms such as recurring constipation or diarrhea, periodic or constant abdominal pain, bloating, and flatulence.

In the later stages, dysbiosis causes symptoms characteristic of poisoning: nausea and vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, etc.

Such signs can be seen both in infants and in older children and adults. Such symptoms require consulting a doctor.

You can suspect worm eggs in children and adults based on similar signs. Worms cause problems in the gastrointestinal tract: constipation, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

Very often, the patient may notice pain in the right hypochondrium or near the navel, as well as a persistent feeling of bloating.

The more widespread the infection, the more intense the symptoms will appear, however, it is possible to accurately determine that there are worm eggs in the human body only through a stool test.

It will also help to distinguish eggs from diseases that cause similar symptoms, such as dysbacteriosis.

It is also necessary to collect stool for analysis if you notice that it has an uncharacteristic color.

For example, dysbiosis leads to a greenish coloration of stool, and a black color may appear if there is a cancerous tumor in the body.

Impurities of blood, mucus, as well as any pain in the stomach, intestines and nearby organs require mandatory consultation with a doctor, as they often indicate signs of some disease.

Among other things, stool analysis, which is an extremely simple and effective diagnostic method, will help to accurately determine the cause of the pain.

It is not difficult to collect a stool sample even from the youngest children, in particular from an infant. The most important thing is to follow a few simple conditions.

If everything is done correctly, then within a few days it will be possible to identify dysbacteriosis, worm eggs and many other pathologies in the patient in order to immediately begin treatment.

A stool test for helminth eggs is a laboratory test of human stool for the purpose of diagnosing helminthiasis. To carry it out, biological material is taken and sent to the laboratory. There is no need to wait long for results - if the laboratory is located in a clinic, the answer is usually ready on the day of the test. In cases where feces have to be sent to other institutions, this period will be slightly longer - 1-2 days.

In order for the analysis result to be reliable, it is important to correctly collect the material and prepare. Not everyone knows how to do this and what factors can affect the diagnosis.

A stool test to determine worm eggs must be taken at least 2 times a year. Unfortunately, adults often neglect this recommendation, but in vain, since more than half of cases of helminth infection occur against the background of mild symptoms or their complete absence. Most consider the main symptom of worm infection to be itching in the anal area, and if such a sign is not observed, they are in no hurry to go to the doctor for a referral for analysis.

You should contact your doctor and ask for a referral for a stool test if you have the following symptoms (in cases where they are chronic):

• weight loss without objective reasons;
• pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
• frequent allergies and infectious diseases (especially colds);
• pain in joints and muscles;
• skin problems;
• headache;
• itching and burning in various areas of the skin (typical of infection of the liver and pulmonary system);
• bowel disorders.

Important! If cases of helminthic infestation are detected in a family, all family members need to be tested and undergo preventive treatment, since helminthiasis spreads very quickly in domestic conditions. If there are pets in the apartment, anthelmintic drugs must be given to them too.

Fecal analysis for worm eggs: how to prepare

Helminthiasis can be very dangerous for humans, especially when it comes to children, so it is important to take diagnostic methods responsibly and properly prepare for submitting material for analysis. 72 hours before collecting stool, doctors recommend stopping taking strong medications (except for vital ones), as some of them can lead to distortion of the test results.

If the patient is receiving antibiotic therapy, it is necessary to consult with the attending physician. It is impossible to interrupt the use of antibacterial drugs due to the possible loss of sensitivity of microorganisms to the active substance and the lack of effect from treatment with drugs of this group in the future. The best way out in this situation: complete the course of treatment and get tested a little later.

We should also talk about nutrition before the study. It is best to exclude from your diet 1-2 days before the test any foods that contribute to increased gas formation and can cause stool upset. These include:

• carbonated drinks;
• sugar;
• fresh vegetables (cabbage, onions, zucchini);
• grapes, bananas, persimmons;
• nuts in large quantities;
• White rice;
• fresh pastries and bread;
• kvass;
• industrial juice.

The consumption of berries should also be minimized or abandoned altogether. The fact is that most berries (cherries, blueberries, black currants, sweet cherries) contain a large amount of coloring pigments that can change the color of stool and distort the results of the examination. If you really want to eat berries, it is better to give preference to light varieties: white cherries, gooseberries, white currants. Compotes of dark berries and fruits are also allowed in minimal quantities (it is better to dilute them with water).

Foods with a laxative effect (prunes, zucchini) should not be eaten the day before the test.

To wash or not?

How to give to an adult?

Many people confuse stool testing for worm eggs with scraping for enterobiasis. A scraping is taken from the skin in the anal area using a cotton swab moistened with clean running water. To detect the eggs that female worms lay, it is necessary to collect feces. It is better to do this in the morning immediately after bowel movement. If you didn’t manage to go to the toilet in the morning, you can prepare the material in the evening and put it in the refrigerator, but you must remember that feces can be stored at a temperature of +2 to +6 degrees for no more than 8 hours in a tightly closed container.

Important! Some people believe that stool that has been in the refrigerator for several hours will not show a reliable result, so they refuse to take the test altogether. This should not be done, since storage for several hours has no effect on the worms and their eggs. The two-hour storage rule should be followed only in cases where the material is submitted for determination of bacterial flora.

• feces for analysis should be taken from three parts: central, upper and lateral;
• the effectiveness of such a study is less than 45%, therefore, to obtain a true clinical picture, it is necessary to take 3-4 tests with an interval of no more than 3-5 days;
• It is necessary to urinate before defecation - it is extremely undesirable for urine to come into contact with feces.

Do I need to sterilize the container?

There is also no need to boil the jar in which the feces will be placed. It is enough to wash it in hot water with any detergent (experts recommend using laundry soap), then rinse it and the lid with boiling water.

If a child knows how to use a potty and knows how to ask for it, the collection rules will be the same as for an adult. Before defecation, the pot should be thoroughly washed with laundry soap and rinsed under a hot water tap. After the child goes to the toilet, use a wooden spatula to separate a small amount of feces (as indicated above) and place it in a container for collecting samples.

Many mothers make a serious mistake by trying to induce bowel movements with laxatives or suppositories. This should not be done, as the result obtained may be unreliable. Other substances should not be used to stimulate stool, including:

• Vaseline and petroleum jelly;
• glycerol;
• fatty creams;
• vegetable oil;
• soap, etc.

To avoid difficulties with bowel movements due to knocking, before taking the test, it is necessary to exclude from the child’s diet foods that can cause constipation (rice, bananas, brown bread), give the child more fluid, spend more time in the fresh air and increase physical activity. As a rule, these measures are enough for the child to go to the toilet in the evening or the next morning.

Video - Diagnosis of helminthiasis (worms) in children

If defecation does not occur

If your child cannot go to the toilet, you can use the following techniques:

• bend and straighten your knees several times (place the child on a horizontal surface before doing this);
• massage the stomach clockwise;
• take a warm bath.

Important! If adjusting your diet and the above measures do not help, you should consult a doctor to rule out serious pathologies.

How to collect feces from a baby?

Most mothers collect the baby's feces directly from the diaper - this is absolutely not worth doing. If the child is small enough to move independently, it is better to be without diapers at all on the day of the test. You can put the baby on an absorbent or regular diaper and wait until the baby goes to the toilet.

If the child is more than 7-8 months old, and he is actively crawling and exploring the surrounding space, the mother will have to constantly monitor the child throughout the day. At the first urge to defecate, the child should be immediately transferred to a clean diaper, from which it is easy to collect the required amount of feces.

If the diagnosis is confirmed