Finding blood in your child's stool or urine may indicate a number of issues. These include illness in your child's digestive tract or injury to the same. Getting to the root of the problem helps you determine whether the blood is a cause for alarm that deserves immediate medical attention or can be cared for at home.
Allergic Signs
Blood in your child's stool is frequently brought on by an allergy, particularly to milk or other dairy products. In the event your child is not suffering an allergic reaction that causes blood to show up in his stool, it may be constipation. Help him avoid the food that triggers the bloody stool or regain healthy bowel habits to overcome blood in his stools.
Significance
According to the National Institutes of Health, post-strep throat kidney disease is a "classic cause" of blood-tinged urine during childhood. As kidney disease can be devastating during childhood, having your child undergo a physician's evaluation and potential hospitalization ensures her disease is not overlooked. Other sources of blood in the urine include extra calcium in the urine, extensive exercise, sickle cell disease and blockage that prevents proper urine flow.
Considerations
In many cases, a small amount of blood in your child's urine or feces does not indicate a serious problem. However, you ought to always contact your physician in the event your child's waste contains blood to ensure a physical examination is not required to protect his health. Substantial bleeding may require immediate hospitalization and treatment.
Identification
If your child has blood in her stool, a variety of tests may be prescribed to get to the bottom of the problem. Using a sample of your child's feces, the physician may test for digestive problems, gastrointestinal bleeding, allergies or infection brought on by parasites or bacteria.
Types
When blood is detected in your child's urine, his pediatrician may require further testing for a definitive diagnosis. In addition to testing your child's urine for problems, your physician may require your child to undergo an ultrasound examination to rule out conditions that affect the kidneys.
