If you see blood in your child's diaper or in the toilet, it may cause panic and alarm. While blood in the stool can indicate a serious problem, the majority of the time it is caused by a minor condition that is easy to treat or to cure. Call your child's pediatrician and schedule an appointment to have her examined. Determining what is causing the blood will enable you to treat it.
Anal Fissure
An anal fissure is a small tear that can bleed as your child eliminates a stool. According to MayoClinic.com, anal fissures are most common among children between the ages of 6 and 24 months, but can occur in children of any age. Anal fissures are caused by constipation, passing very hard stools or straining to pass a bowel movement. Anal fissures often heal without treatment, but you can ease your child's discomfort by applying a cream containing hydrocortisone and by adding baking soda to your child's bath. You can help prevent anal fissures by increasing your child's intake of fiber and water, recommends MayoClinic.com.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins on the surface or interior of the anus that can bleed in response to pressure, says MayoClinic.com. Often, hemorrhoids can cause a small amount of bleeding on the surface of the stool or on the toilet paper when wiping. If your child has an exterior hemorrhoid, you will be able to see it. An interior hemorrhoid occurs inside the anus and is not visible. Straining too hard or passing large bowel movements can irritate a hemorrhoid and cause it to bleed.
Infection
Several different infections can cause your child to have blood in her stool. For example, according to Kids Health, shigella bacteria cause shigellosis, which most often affects children between the ages of 2 and 4 and causes diarrhea, cramps, fever and vomiting. Other infections that can present with blood in the stool include salmonella, campylobacter and E.coli. If your child's doctor suspects an infection, he will test a stool sample. Some infections go away on their own, while others may require an antibiotic prescribed by your pediatrician.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause blood in the stool, reports Healthy Children. There are multiple forms of IBD, and they are diagnosed and treated differently. Symptoms of Crohn's disease can include abdominal pain, nausea, fever, appetite loss and fatigue, in addition to blood in the stool. Ulcerative colitis may be suspected if your child suffers from pain on the left side of the abdomen, fatigue, anxiety, joint stiffness and blood in the stool. If your child is diagnosed with IBD, she can be treated with dietary changes and medication.
