Strands of blood in the baby's stool appear as a matter of concern for parents. However, it is not usually a serious situation, since there are several reasons that cause it and that They have an easy solution.
In other cases, the stool may be indicative of some type of serious illness, such as infections, food allergies, or bowel obstruction. In addition to this symptom there are other factors that must be taken into account and that would be associated with these small hemorrhages.
Baby's bloody stools. Why does it happen?
There are several reasons that can cause blood to appear in the stool. Generally, when the baby is just born, he has a black color in his stools due to the presence of meconium and that they have to expel in this way.
Outside its first days of life, it should no longer present an unusual color in your stools. It is from the sixth month and with the introduction of a new diet when Your stools change color.
Bloody stools may present in the form of drops, with threads or with clots of greater contribution and intensity. The color may be red blood where it will indicate that the problem occurs near the anal opening.
If the stools are dark, blackish, or foul-smelling the problem could be associated with the upper part of your digestion. In this case it suggests that the bleeding may come from the esophagus to the beginning of the small intestine. When the feces have brownish blood and abundant, the problem is usually associated with the junction of the small intestine and colon.
Common reasons and causes of finding blood in the stool of babies
The reason that is most associated is when there is an anal fissure. This cause is associated to constipation And although it may not seem like it, breastfed babies can also suffer from this condition.
constipation
Constipation, as a general rule, is associated when the baby changes food. The feces become hard and create pain when trying to expel them. In this way you can reach create some small threads or strands of blood. The solution lies in including much more fiber in your diet or taking some type of natural drug.
Food allergies
There are breastfed babies who present allergy to food consumed by the mother, in some of these cases it is usually cow's milk, some non-animal milk and its derivatives. In these cases it is necessary to identify which is the responsible food and have to exclude it from the diet. Babies often have stringy stools or blood clots.
When there are diaper rashes and irritated skin
Some blood is usually identified with bright red color in the stool, due to the bleeding that the parts affected by the irritation present, this blood will not come from the interior. Even when it goes to clean the remains of your waste on the skin can be stained with blood. In these cases you have to remove wipes that are sold for cleaning and use a very soft sponge moistened with warm water. Then some type of cream will be essential to protect, hydrate and serve as a protective barrier.
Menstruation in newborn girls
Newborn girls may present blood in the diaper and can be confused with bleeding in the stool. It usually occurs within two weeks of birth and is usually a “mini-menstruation” which usually disappears in a few days. When in doubt, consult a pediatrician.
infectious diarrhea
Presents with blood in the stool due to an intestinal infection. In these cases, babies usually have fever, colic and vomiting. Try to rule out the type of infection with a review to the specialist and as soon as possible. Types of diarrhea that could be severe include necrotizing enterocolitis and enterocolitis associated with Hirschsprung's disease.
In case of any doubt, if the blood represents insecurity and fear there is no go to a pediatrician. Other symptoms that must be taken into account and when they represent that something is not right are: when the baby cries a lot, has no appetite, vomits, fever or diarrhea.