Even minor, at first glance, changes in the condition of the baby scare parents. Of particular concern is the presence of feces with blood in the child. This can be a symptom of dangerous diseases, as well as a minor consequence of malnutrition. Why does the child have blood in the stool and a symptom of what diseases this may be, we will consider in this article.
Sources of blood in the stool
The presence of blood in the feces in a child of 2 years does not always indicate the presence of a serious disease. But despite this, it is recommended that you visit a doctor as soon as possible and pass the necessary tests.
There are three options for the presence of feces with blood in a child.
- This phenomenon is not pathological and does not pose a threat to the health of the baby.
- Blood in the stool is a symptom of serious illness requiring immediate treatment.
- “False” blood - a change in the color of feces provoked foods or drugs.
Specialists distinguish two main sources of blood in the feces of children.
- The first is the anus, colon, rectum. Blood will be bright red. There may be streaks of blood in the feces of the child or mixing it with the bulk of the bowel movement.
- The second is the small intestine and stomach. In this case, the stool of the baby can be painted in a dark, almost black color. This staining occurs due to the influence of hydrochloric acid of the stomach on the hemoglobin of the blood. This is the most dangerous condition requiring quick treatment.
Causes
Various pathological factors can provoke the appearance of blood in the feces in a 2-year-old child. Consider the most common of them.
Rectal fissures. This is the most common cause of stool blood in children of this age. The child already has full-fledged adult nutrition, which can provoke hard stools. Because of this, there are problems with bowel movements. With constipation, feces pass with difficulty, damaging the rectal mucosa. These microtraumas can provoke a small amount of feces in the child. As a rule, cracks heal quickly with normalization of the stool. If constipation continues to bother the baby for a long time, this can lead to the development of hemorrhoids, during which during a bowel movement you can see a significant amount of red blood in the bowel movements, as well as the appearance of hemorrhoids. A child with the appearance of microdamages of the rectum will feel pain during bowel movements, therefore at this moment begins to cry or grunt. Some children, in fear of pain, refuse to go to the potty. This should be one of the first symptoms for parents.
Allergic reaction. Basically, such a cause of feces with blood in a child occurs in his infancy. But there are situations in which an allergy to products provokes irritation of the intestinal mucosa and at an older age. In this situation, the baby has other symptoms that are worth paying attention to.
Nosebleeds. It happens that the blood in the feces in a 2-year-old child appears due to swallowing a small amount of it during nosebleeds.
Intestinal intestines (obstruction) can be a dangerous cause of blood in the stool. Along with bleeding, the child complains of severe pain in the abdomen of a paroxysmal nature, loose stools with mucus and frequent vomiting. Such a pathology occurs in most cases in children under 2 years of age. Requires immediate hospitalization.
Helminths. The presence of blood in the feces in a child of 2 years can cause worms. When passing through the intestines, feces carries along parasites, which, breaking away from the walls of the organ, provoke damage to its mucosa. For this reason, small blood clots may appear in the feces.
The formation of polyps in the large intestine. These are growths of a benign nature, which can cause blood in the stool in a child 2-7 years old. Such a pathology is characterized by bloody bowel movements, but without any accompanying noticeable symptoms.
Meckel's diverticulum. This is a disease in which a protrusion of the walls of the colon occurs. In this case, gastrointestinal bleeding is observed, which occur systematically. Severe anemia develops. This is a very dangerous disease that threatens the baby's life.
Colitis. Inflammation inside the colon caused by small ulcers that provoke pain. The causes of the appearance of the pathology are not exactly known. It is assumed that genetics plays a large role in this.
Very rarely, the cause of blood in the stool in children is malignant tumors, intestinal tuberculosis and other equally dangerous diseases.
It happens that parents find in their child feces with blood and mucus brown or greenish. There is also an unpleasant odor and a frothy look of stool. This may be a sign of the presence of enterovirus, staphylococcus or other infections that can be dangerous for a small organism. Therefore, if symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor, since intoxication of the body may develop without proper treatment.
Non-pathological causes
In addition to the above reasons, staining of feces in dark, blood-like shades can provoke the child's use of certain foods and medicines. These include:
- beet;
- chocolate;
- bird cherry;
- Blueberries
- Tomatoes
- food coloring products;
- blackcurrant and others.
Medicines that can cause a discoloration of feces include:
- iron preparations;
- Activated carbon;
- some types of antibiotics.
Dangerous symptoms
It happens that in addition to the appearance of blood in the feces, a 2-year-old child has additional signs that can be used to judge the development of pathological conditions in him. Symptoms for which it is worth immediately contacting a medical facility include:
- increase in body temperature;
- prolonged constipation;
- prolonged headache;
- the appearance of signs of an allergic reaction - for example, a rash;
- detection of helminths in feces;
- abdominal pain;
- impaired consciousness;
- cramping in the abdomen;
- painful bowel movements;
- detection in a child of feces with mucus and blood;
- refusal of food;
- vomiting
- rapid weight loss.
Diagnostics
If you find any of the above signs, you should contact your pediatrician as soon as possible. He will decide on referring you to one of the narrow-profile specialists - an infectious disease specialist, proctologist, gastroenterologist or allergist.
Usually, the examination begins with a rectal examination, with which the doctor can determine the cause of the appearance of blood in the stool.
Laboratory tests are mandatory - general blood tests, urine, feces and a coprogram (volumetric study of all indicators of feces), an analysis of dysbiosis.
Then, instrumental diagnostic methods may be required. These include:
- ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs or other necessary organs;
- X-ray examination
- fibrogastroduodenoscopy - examination with a special device of the upper parts of the digestive tract and others.
Hidden blood
If certain diseases are suspected, one of the main diagnostic methods will be an analysis for the presence of occult blood in the feces of a child. This condition is called sideropenia and is not manifested by external signs. For the analysis, special sensitive substances are used, which, when oxidized, change their color.
A few days before the procedure, you need to maintain a diet that excludes meat dishes, cucumbers, cabbage and some other products. It is also worth refusing to take the medicines that the doctor will designate. This is necessary so that occult blood is not found in a healthy baby. The feces should be placed in a sterile jar and delivered to the laboratory within three hours.
Reasons for Hidden Blood
In most cases, such a pathology in children occurs with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. These include:
- Gastric or intestinal bleeding. There are signs of anemia, since there is an almost constant loss of blood, which is not visible to the naked eye. Nausea, severe weakness, chills also begin to disturb. Vomiting with blood may appear, and the blood will be dark in color, similar to coffee grounds. Sometimes, with the development of the disease, streaks of blood appear in the feces of the child. In advanced cases, if untreated, black blood appears in the feces.
- Malignant tumors in the stomach. It manifests itself as anemia, weight loss, refusal to eat, pain in the abdomen.
- Malignant tumors in the intestines. Concerned with intestinal obstruction, stool disorders and more.
- Tumors of the esophagus.
- Stomach ulcer.
Treatment
In any case, the doctor should choose the therapy. Self-medication can aggravate the course of the disease and provoke serious complications. With obvious symptoms, you must immediately call an ambulance, before the arrival of which do not take any action. You can not give your child painkillers, put an enema or use a heating pad. Also, ice is not used for applying to the stomach. Drinking and eating before the arrival of the doctor is not allowed.
The method of treatment will completely depend on the cause of blood in the stool in a child of 2 years.
- Allergy. Pretty common. If the cause of feces with blood in a child is an allergic reaction, antihistamines are prescribed. A complete elimination of the allergen is recommended.
- Intestinal infections. Treatment in this case will be selected strictly individually, taking into account the baby's age, state of health and the causative agent of infection. Antibacterial drugs, antiviral, hemostatic agents and enzymes are prescribed. In most cases, treatment in a hospital is indicated.
- Helminths. Antiparasitic drugs, antibiotics and vitamin complexes are used in the treatment.
- Cracks in the rectum. In this case, anti-inflammatory and wound healing agents are used. Also, a major role in the treatment of this cause is nutritional correction. It is recommended to eat vegetables and fruits rich in fiber, some types of cereals and dairy products.
- Hemorrhoidal nodes. Such a pathology in children 2 years old rarely occurs. In the treatment, ointments and suppositories of hemostatic, wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects are used.
- Infectious diarrhea. In this case, complex therapy is very important, which will be aimed at preventing dehydration of the body, removing toxins, eliminating the infection itself and preventing the development of dysbiosis. An abundant drinking regimen, the use of sorbents and antimicrobial agents are indicated.
- In other, more serious situations, treatment includes surgical and medical methods. With oncological tumors, radiation therapy or chemotherapy is used.
It is worth noting that nutrition has a great influence on quick recovery.
If you notice a single occurrence of feces with streaks of blood in the child, it is worth following his condition. If the baby behaves as usual, then for excitement, as a rule, there is no reason. But still it is recommended to consult a pediatrician for advice.
Folk remedies for treatment
For the treatment of certain diseases in which blood appears in the feces, some popular recipes have proven themselves well - using decoctions of chamomile, nettle and yarrow as lotions, as well as sea buckthorn oil. Such methods must be discussed with your doctor.
Complications
In the absence of adequate treatment, the pathological conditions that caused the presence of blood in the feces of the child can provoke the development of serious complications that will threaten the baby's health and life.
- Scars in the anus. This can occur with frequent occurrence of microtrauma of the rectum.
- The development of infections. With constant damage to the skin and mucous membrane, pathogenic bacteria can enter the wounds, which can also pass to the genitals, thereby worsening the situation.
- Crohn's disease and colitis can cause bowel obstruction.
- Prolonged internal bleeding is life threatening.
Prevention
Preventive measures in this case will include proper nutrition, rich in fiber and dairy products. The correct drinking regimen is also very important. Nursing mothers should monitor their diet, avoiding the use of foods that can cause allergic reactions. For the prevention of infectious diseases, you need to ensure that the child washed his hands after a walk, did not lick his fingers and did not eat unwashed fruits and vegetables. Systematically inspect the area of the anus for damage and cracks. It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of your child and at the first suspicious symptoms, contact a medical institution for examination and passing the necessary tests. Indeed, many diseases are quite successfully treated with early detection. In some cases, procrastination can threaten the health and life of the baby.
Conclusion
If you find blood in a stool in a child, you do not need to leave this unattended. It is better to consult a doctor immediately, because the symptoms of dangerous diseases may not appear immediately, and the pathological process will already develop in the children's body. Particular attention should be paid to the situation in which the blood in the stool will be mixed with them - this is a clear sign of bleeding that occurs directly in the intestine and can lead to serious consequences. No need to take independent actions, as improper treatment can aggravate the situation. Call an ambulance right away.
If there are streaks of blood in the feces on top of the stool itself and in a small amount - this is most likely a sign of cracks in the rectum. This condition is not a threat and is very quickly and successfully treated. In any case, a doctor’s consultation is required.