Summary: A new free smartphone app accurately screens for a rare newborn liver disease. Researchers found that the app was able to read, interpret and record the color of a newborn's poop to detect biliary atresia (BA), a rare disorder that makes up nearly half of all cases of serious pediatric liver disease. Early detection saves lives and reduces the likelihood that an infant will need a liver transplant.
Parenting can be a stressful venture, especially when it comes to your baby's health. And with newborns, every little symptom can signal fear. While some concerns may be overly cautious, others are completely warranted. Your newborn baby's poop, for example, is a great indicator of optimal health.
Why inspect baby's poop? It's a great indicator of what's going on inside. After the first few BMs (which are a greenish-black tar called meconium), baby's poop should look mustard yellow and brown in the case of breastfed babies, or yellowish brown for formula-fed babies. On the other hand, red, white or black poop can indicate gastrointestinal problems, while pale yellow to chalky grey poop is symptom of a rare and deadly form of liver disease called biliary atresia (BA). Babies who are diagnosed and treated for BA within the first two months of life are much less likely to have permanent liver damage — but the average time of diagnosis is around 70 days. Surgery done in the early stages can prevent irreversible damage to the liver.
Once you know what to look out for, it's easy to keep track with your bare eyes — though a new app that helps track your baby's gastrointestinal health can help. According to a new study, published July 29 in in the journal PLOS ONE, the appPoopMD, which can be downloaded free on Apple or Android smartphones, can accurately provide assurance to parents that their newborn does not have BA, a liver disease that impacts one in 14,000 newborns or about 400 each year. The app detects not only stool that could indicate gastrointestinal bleeding (black or red) or problems digesting nutrients (white), but also pale yellow to chalky grey poop color that calls for immediate medical assistance.
"Days matter in diagnosing BA," said Douglas Mogul, M.D., M.P.H., a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and lead author of the study, in a statement.
For the study, researchers gathered data from seven pediatricians who looked at 34 photographs of pale stool samples. Six pediatricians had to agree for the samples to be considered normal or abnormal. In all, they found 27 of the photos to be normal stool and seven were found to be at a high risk of BA. In the second part of the study, one expert and three non-expert participants used the app to analyze the same pictures using different smartphones and lighting. The app was able to correctly identify 24 of 27 normal stools, while three were labeled indeterminate. Researchers reported no false negatives, which would lead a parent not to seek immediate medical attention when it was necessary.
"These individuals were essentially asked to take a picture of the stool photograph and determine if the app identifies the photo as normal or pale," Mogul says, "but in normal use, a parent just takes pictures of the contents of a diaper."
When an image is labeled indeterminate, users are prompted to resubmit and the photos are saved under the baby's profile. The photos can be sent directly to a pediatrician if follow up is necessary. Users can select a photo that resembles their baby's poop from the photo library or take their own photo. The app also reminds parents to check their little one's stool sample every two weeks.
While the sample was small, it accurately proved that this free app is effective at identifying photos that are consistent with BA symptoms. According to the study, 56 percent of American adults have a smartphone, and 31 percent use it to look up health information. And what makes this app extra special is that unlike many health apps, its efficacy has been tested and proven. PoopMD is one more tool in your parenting toolbox to keep your baby healthy.
What this means to you. A breastfed newborn's poop is usually mustard yellow, green or brown and it smells sweet, while a formula-fed newborn's poop is yellowish-brown and smells more like regular poop. If you notice that your baby's poop is pale yellow to chalky grey, download the app and quickly talk to your doctor about your concerns. Or if you're looking for a quick method of ruling out BA or other gastrointestinal issues, the app is easy and appears to be effective. In most cases, PoopMD simply gives parents the peace of mind in knowing that their baby is healthy, but in some cases, it can save a life.
Remember, too, that if you're ever concerned something isn't quite right with your baby, whether it's poop or any other symptom, follow your instincts and always talk to your doctor — it's best to err on the side of caution.
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