The blood in the child's chair is always a shock or even a shock to the parents. But, no matter how frightening it may seem, most often a child with a stool with blood does not indicate the presence of serious diseases. The reasons for this may be different, and they need to be established, focusing, first of all, on the age of the child.
Nevertheless, do not ignore this symptom, and in case of finding veins, clots or drops of blood in the feces of a child, the first thing to do is to see a doctor.
From time to time most children have minor rectal bleeding, which does not affect the state of health and the general condition of the child. But without medical help, it is impossible to determine the exact cause of this by ourselves.
Where does the blood in the feces come from?
There are two only possible sources of blood in the feces of a child (including an infant). The first of these is the upper parts of the digestive system (small intestine and stomach), the second - the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract (large intestine, rectum and anus).
Bleeding from the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract cause staining of stools in black. Black feces is due to the influence of gastric juice on the hemoglobin of the blood (this produces a black hematinum hydrochloride). If a child with vomiting bleeding has vomiting, vomit will look like a "coffee grounds" - black and with small grains.
Spots or streaks of bright red or scarlet blood in the stool is a sign of bleeding from the lower parts of the intestine.
There are cases when it is impossible to visually determine the presence of blood in the stool. There are special studies aimed at detecting hidden blood in the feces of a child. If the pediatrician has ordered your child to take an analysis for hidden blood, pay attention to the child's diet 2-3 days before collecting the feces for the study. Improper preparation can cause a completely healthy person to have a positive result (that is, they will reveal latent blood in the stool). For 2-3 days exclude from the ration of the child meat, meat products, cucumbers, horseradish, cauliflower. Temporary discontinuation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ascorbic acid, iron preparations.
Sometimes the black color of the stool, considered a sign of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, can be caused not by blood, but by food or medicine. To products and preparations that cause staining of feces in a dark color, include:
- preparations of iron;
- chocolate;
- Activated carbon;
- beet;
- some antibiotics;
- confectionery gelatin;
- bismuth preparations, etc.
Note that most often in the presence of serious diseases, rectal bleeding is not the only symptom. Closely monitor the state of health, behavior and general condition of the child. If you notice a worsening, the child becomes moody, irritable, does not sleep well and eats, etc. - do not delay visit to the pediatrician.
Causes of blood in the feces of a child
The following is a list of the most common causes of blood in the child's stool:
- Fissure of the anus. The blood in the stool is bright, red, "poured" from above, and not inside the feces. The child complains of pain during defecation, on the toilet paper there are bloody tracks. Prevention of cracks in the anus - proper nutrition, prevention of constipation, active lifestyle.
- Allergic reaction to the protein of cow's milk or soy. Most often, diarrhea with blood streaks is observed. If any of these symptoms occur, consult a doctor immediately.
- Infectious diarrhea.
- Juvenile polyps. Polyps are growths on the large intestine. In addition to blood in the stool, there are symptoms: abdominal pain, lethargy, general weakness, fever, or other changes in behavior or condition - see a doctor immediately. Before the ambulance arrives, do not give your child to eat or drink, nor should you give any medications, including antispasmodics and analgesics.