Blood In Baby Stool: What Causes It? When To Seek Medical Care?

The presence of blood in a baby's stool should be taken seriously. Since babies are born with natural healing abilities, most of the time, these situations will resolve on their own. However, it is necessary to inform the doctor of the presence of blood in the stool to avoid any complications.

The timing of an emergency visit to the doctor depends on the child's behaviour. If the child has abdominal pain and a fever, then you should take the child to the hospital immediately [1].

Blood In Baby's Stool: What You Need To Know

The colour of the blood will indicate where the blood is originating. If it is coming from the colon or the rectum, it will be red and only appear outside of the stool. Blood that originates from the GI tract usually has a darker colour [2]. It will usually be dark brown, maroon or black in colour, and it will also be found throughout the stool.

It is important to note that blood in baby stool is a natural consequence of constipation, however, there are several other reasons why this may happen. The following are some of the other causes of blood in the baby's stool [3].

While most of the time this can resolve itself, it is always a good idea to consult a physician if it persists.

Blood In Baby Stool: What Causes It?

Here are the most common causes of blood in baby stool [4][5]:

1. Anal tear

Blood can appear in baby stool as a result of a fissure in the anus of the infant. The bleeding can also be caused by strain from passing the stool. Even a small amount of blood appears to be a red streak. The presence of blood in the baby's stool can also be caused by constipation.

2. Blood in breastmilk

In some cases, breast milk contains blood. This is often the result of cracked or injured nipples. The baby may swallow some blood during a feed when this occurs. It may cause faint streaks of blood to appear in the baby's stool or cause the stool to appear reddish.

3. Food allergies

One of the most common causes of baby stool blood is a reaction to cow's milk products and soy. In addition to temporary lactose intolerance, blood in the stool could also result from the oversupply of breast milk.

Bleeding may also occur as a result of an allergy to breast milk. Intestinal infection may also be a contributing factor.

4. Diarrhoea

It is common for babies to have blood in their stool following constipation, but it is also possible for them to experience bleeding following infectious diarrhoea. As a result of bacteria growing in the stomach, this upsets the bacterial balance, leading to damage to the mucosa and bloody stools.

Breastfed babies are less likely to experience this, as breast milk inhibits the growth of bacteria.

5. Upper GI bleeding

Dark blood in the stool or black stools may signify that the upper part of the baby's gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach, oesophagus, throat, or even nose, is bleeding. Sometimes, this happens after a traumatic injury, such as choking. In other cases, upper GI bleeding occurs because of a severe infection or illness.

6. Vitamin/fluoride drops

When you begin giving your child vitamins and fluoride drops, blood can appear in their stool. However, it only occurs in some cases, and therefore, you cannot ignore it. Once the drops have been discontinued, the blood will disappear. Various intestinal disorders, such as colitis, may also contribute to bleeding.

Blood In Baby Stool: When To Seek Medical Care?

In most cases, bloody stools do not pose an immediate threat to life.

Nevertheless, caregivers should consult a doctor if blood is found in their baby's stool. A doctor can diagnose the cause and recommend an appropriate course of treatment [6].

When a baby has bloody diarrhoea, bloody stools, and a fever, or if the baby is premature and has blood in their stool, bloody stools, and a swollen stomach, or is lethargic, confused, or very ill, caregivers should go to the emergency room immediately.

On A Final Note...

When a baby's stool contains blood, it may indicate that a temporary issue has occurred, such as constipation. However, blood in the stool may also indicate a life-threatening medical condition, such as necrotising enterocolitis.

Caretakers are often unable to identify the cause at home, so it is necessary to consult a physician for assistance. Never ignore when your baby passes bloody stool. If the problem does not resolve on its own, consult a medical practitioner immediately for an early diagnosis.