Should You Worry About Blood in A Toddler’s Stool

Introduction:

The presence of blood in a toddler's stool needs careful evaluation of a diverse range of underlying conditions. The primary focus should be upon common gastrointestinal disorders. Among these, anal fissures, food allergies, gastrointestinal infections, and inflammatory bowel diseases are most common. Additionally, there could be rare but critical causes, including bleeding disorders and vascular malformations. Clinical assessment is essential for an accurate diagnosis to determine treatment strategies. These can be achieved through dietary modifications and medications; extreme cases requiring surgical interventions. Early identification and management of the cause of blood in a toddler's stool can prevent further complications in future. We will discuss how to do it and improve the condition of affected children.

The Best Part of Noticing Blood in Your Toddler’s Stool

Bloody stools don't always scream an emergency. It could be might as well due to diarrhea and constipation. The blood in a toddler’s stool may as well be from nosebleeds or from a recent tonsillectomy.

However, in girls, blood in the urine (hematuria) might appear as blood in the stool when female toddlers acquire an urinary tract infection [ref]. Parents and caregivers are advised to seek immediate medical attention at the sight of blood. More so, if a child is showing other signs of illness along with abnormal behaviour.

Harmless Factors that Might Turn Your Toddler’s Stools Red

Foods and Food coloring cause red- or purple-tinged stools. This is because stool passes really fast through a child's gut, without letting bile work on it properly. The stool will bear the same color of the food or fluid they eat, for example, beetroots and watermelons. Even coloring added to many drinks, gelatin and desserts—or in breakfast cereals cause stool to take on a red color. Food rich in iron; dark chocolate, dark purple grapes and dark juices; cranberries and blueberries may also cause black stool in children.

Medications too, can turn stools red, dark-reddish or entirely black. Bismuth. a common OTC medication colors stools black or dark red. Same with iron supplements; with medications containing bright red dyes (cherry -flavored syrups and laxatives, for example). Certain antibiotics like tetracyclines might also bring orange/red coloration in both urine and stools in children.

Causes Behind the Appearance of Blood in Your Toddler’s Stools

Potentially serious conditions of the Upper GI-tract

Upper GI-tract bleeding in In children and infants may indicate potentially serious conditions. Not just with black sticky stools, blood might emerge through vomit - either as bright red streaks or in dark flecks resembling ground coffee. This is most often accompanied by abdominal pain and could be caused by a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. Besides, repeated bouts of vomiting cause micro-tears in the lining of the lower esophagus, causing bleeding. 

Then there are anti-pyretic and non-steroidal analgesic drugs and certain liver problems that bring on the issues. 

Infections of the Lower G.I. Tract

Lower GI-tract bleeding is a rare occurrence in toddlers, but if it's present, it indicates a serious, underlying health condition. It might be due to a virus, an intestinal parasite, some bacteria or fungus. Both acquired and genetic conditions responsible for inflammatory bowel disease or Ulcerative colitis; gluten and lactose intolerance - even hemorrhoids, could be the reasons behind. See if the child suffers from constipation. Growths or polyps on the epithelial cell lining and their occasional rupture could be a big reason. 

Premature babies are more vulnerable to necrotizing enterocolitis [ref] which might cause intestinal bleeding. Intestinal vascular malformations [ref], the abnormal clusters of blood vessels occuring before birth are a highly probable cause. Lactose intolerance, an allergic reaction to lactose in cow’s milk also trigger blood and mucus.

What You Can Do Immediately After Finding Blood in Your Toddler’s Stools  

• Start using wet wipes or medicated wipes.
• Increase your toddler's intake of water a little. 
• Don't increase your toddler’s fiber intake right away. It might scrape the ruptured intestinal epithelial cell linings more.
• Avoid foods or formulas that contain cow’s milk, soy and wheat. Allergen information remains printed on the label.
• Watch for any change. Start by introducing all that you avoided, one by one.  
• Consult a pediatrician immediately if you see the symptoms returning.

When to Seek Medical Help?

You must seek immediate medical help if stool color doesn’t return to normal within 72 hours of introducing the home remedies. DO NOT administer any anti-helminth, antibiotics or anti-allergic medication yourself. The dosages need to be fixed according to your toddler’s body weight, age and present liver conditions. Let the child specialists do their job. Self-medication might lead to bigger issues leading to complicated treatments. This might affect your toddler for the rest of his or her life. 

Don't Think Red Always Stands for Blood in Your Toddler’s Stool

Different colored stools in toddlers can be caused by many different things. The variety of foods or medicines they are given too determines the color. It's not just blood that turns your toddler's stool red or black. We mentioned earlier the foods and medications that do. However, we didn't speak about black and red icings and non-edible foreign objects, like crayons.

Red or dark-colored stool is seldom caused by intestinal bleeding or gut-related diseases and infections. However, anal fissures resulting from constipations are a plausible cause. So is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which might result from food allergies - chiefly gluten.  It’s not a matter of concern that much. But it might become very much so if you don’t do anything to end the allergy or the constipation. A qualified and practicing paedetrician is the best person to guide you on that. But keep note that the most common reasons for toddlers to pass reddish stools ARE NOT because of blood.