Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
A common cause of blood in an infants stool is a slight anal tear (fissure) from baby straining with the
passage of the stool. The small amount of blood from an anal fissure tends to look like a red streak on the
outside of the stool.
Another common cause of blood in the stools of infants is food allergies. The top allergens are cows
milk products and soy. See Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies for more information.
A third common cause: If mom has a cracked nipple or other bleeding, then baby may ingest some
blood from mom (this is not harmful to baby), which may show up in babys stool.
Occasionally, blood in the stool may be due to breastmilk oversupply. Per Dr. Jack Newman, bloody
stools in some babies have been eliminated completely by resolving moms oversupply. This can be done by
following the usual management procedures for oversupply; it can also be helpful to use breast
compressions to increase the amount of fat that baby gets while nursing. See Can a baby be allergic to
breastmilk? for more information on oversupply causing blood in babys stool.
There are several case reports of a baby beginning to have mucous and/or blood in the stool after
starting vitamin/fluoride drops, where the blood disappeared after the drops were discontinued.
Blood in the stool may also be caused by a temporary case of lactose intolerance, due to an intestinal
infection.
Certain kinds of infectious diarrhea can cause bloody stools in babies, including Salmonellaand C.
Difficile. C. Difficile is a bacteria that grows in the gut if the bacterial balance has been upset; the toxin can
cause injury to the mucosa and bloody stools. Breastfed babies tend to have less severe symptoms than nonbreastfed babies because breastmilk inhibits the growth of the bacteria.
Various forms of colitis, intussusception, or other intestinal disorders are other possible causes.
Does blood in the stool require a trip to the emergency room?
You should always talk to babys doctor if there is blood in babys stool, but whether or not this
requires an emergency visit would depend upon your childs behavior. If baby is happy and
seems healthy, then call your doctor to make an appointment. If baby is experiencing abdominal
pain, significant bleeding in the stool, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or fever, then more urgent medical
care is indicated. Per Dr. Jay Gordon, Persistent or increasing blood in the stool or blood mixed
with mucus (described as currant jelly stool in the texts) requires an immediate call to your
doctor.
Things your doctor will want to know or figure out:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
You can expect your doctor to do a thorough exam as well, and will examine for rectal tears at
that time.
* sursa: 1. http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/bloodystool/
2. http://www.ivillage.com/babies-bloody-mucousy-stools-baby/6-n-136731