Table of contents:
- Bloody bowel movements in babies can be caused by food
- Causes of bloody bowel movements in babies
- 1. Anal fissure
- 2. Food allergies
- 3. Bleeding nipples
- 4. Intestinal disorders and infections
- How to deal with bloody bowel movements in babies
- 1. Keep the area around the anus clean
- 2. Apply cream or petroleum jelly
- 3. Provide antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs
- 4. Adjusting the baby's diet
- 5. Operations to treat bloody bowel movements in babies
Have you ever found blood in a baby's stool when changing his diaper? Chapter bleeding in babies can be due to food consumed or health problems. For that, parents need to know the causes in order to deal with them appropriately.
Bloody bowel movements in babies can be caused by food
As a parent, of course you pay attention to all developments and changes that occur in your little one. Starting from the behavior to the shape and color of the baby's stool.
It aims to make it easier for parents to overcome health problems if there is a change in their little one, including bloody bowel movements.
If you find blood in your baby's bowel movements, don't panic yet and rush him to the doctor. It's good, try to remember what they ate last time.
Usually, a baby's immature digestive system keeps the color and shape of the stool from changing much from the food eaten.
For example, when consuming dragon fruit or tomatoes, the color of the baby's stool tends to be purple or red.
This condition is still fairly normal, so you don't need to worry. To test this, you might be able to change the menu.
However, if the red color in the baby's bowel movements often appear and you suspect it is blood, immediately consult a pediatrician.
Causes of bloody bowel movements in babies
In order not to take the wrong steps in handling it, parents must know the cause of bloody bowel movements in babies. Some of the things that cause this condition include:
1. Anal fissure
Anal fissure or anal fissure is a condition when there is a small tear in the lining of the anal canal. This condition occurs not only in adults, but also in young children and babies.
As reported by Kids Health, anal fissures occur when a baby's bowel movements are too big and hard. The stool then tries to pass through the baby's anus, so it is not uncommon to tear the lining of the anus.
As a result, the anal area feels sore and itchy, especially when you have a bowel movement.
This condition is actually quite common in babies and will get better if you take care of the area.
Some of the following ways can be done so that the bloody CHAPTER in your baby does not happen again.
- Give lots of water
- Provide enough fiber
- Apply an ointment to speed healing
However, if your baby's stool is still bleeding for a few days, talk to your doctor about getting the right treatment.
2. Food allergies
Basically, babies can be allergic to any food. In fact, breast milk from mothers who eat foods that trigger allergies in babies also cause allergic reactions.
The allergic response in infants and the inflammation is usually inflammation of the intestines. Inflammation in the intestine can be one of the causes of bloody bowel movements in babies.
Therefore, paying attention to food sources that are suitable for babies is also important so that problems do not occur later on.
3. Bleeding nipples
One of the reasons for bloody bowel movements in babies is breastfeeding from the mother's bleeding nipples. The blood that comes from the nipples eventually enters their digestive system and makes the baby's bowel movements bleed.
However, mothers need not worry. This condition does not endanger the health of your little one.
4. Intestinal disorders and infections
If the bloody bowel movements in the baby are also accompanied by digestive disorders such as diarrhea, it could be that the little one has an intestinal bacterial infection. Various bacteria that cause infection in the baby's intestines and bloody diarrhea, including:
- Shigella
- Salmonella
- E. Coli
- Campylobacter
If babies have this condition, you have to make sure they keep drinking as much milk as possible so that they don't become dehydrated.
In addition, parents can also give oral fluids that have been approved by your pediatrician.
Intestinal disorders and infections can actually be treated at home, but if your baby experiences the following symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.
- Fever
- Signs of dehydration
- Refusing to drink and eat
- Cry often
- Have had 8 diarrhea in the last 8 hours
- Diarrhea still occurs for 1 week even though antibiotics have been given
Bloody bowel movements in babies certainly cause concern for parents. However, this condition is actually quite common and doesn't always signal danger.
You can deal with bloody bowel movements in your little one in several ways, both by yourself and medically.
How to deal with bloody bowel movements in babies
There are various factors that can cause bloody stools. Starting from gastrointestinal infections, tears in the anus due to constipation babies, food allergies, to certain medical conditions such as polyp formation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Handling of bloody bowel movements needs to be done based on the cause. In general, here are a series of ways that can be taken to deal with bloody bowel movements in your little one:
1. Keep the area around the anus clean
If bloody stool is caused by a tear in the anus, parents must maintain the cleanliness of the baby's body, especially the anus to keep it clean and prevent infection.
Infection can worsen a torn anus. If the tearing of the anus gets worse, the baby's bowel movements will continue to be accompanied by blood.
Always make sure to clean the anal area and bottom of the baby every time he finishes defecating. Clean using water and a special baby soap, then dry with a soft towel.
You can also use a moisturizing cream to prevent rashes.
2. Apply cream or petroleum jelly
Quoting National Health Services, a tear in the baby's anus can heal by itself after a few weeks.
During this period, you can apply petroleum jelly or creams containing zinc oxide to speed healing.
Cream and petroleum jelly does not directly address bloody bowel movements in infants.
However, these two products help protect the anus from irritation so that bowel movements are no longer painful or accompanied by bleeding.
3. Provide antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs
If the bloody stool is not caused by a tear in the anus, the trigger could be a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection.
Parents can deal with bloody bowel movements in babies related to infection with antibiotics or antiparasitic drugs as recommended by a doctor.
Antibiotic drugs are used to treat gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria such as IBD and colitis. Meanwhile, anti-parasitic drugs are effective in overcoming infectious diseases caused by other microbes, such as worms.
4. Adjusting the baby's diet
Sometimes, bloody bowel movements in babies is an allergic reaction to certain foods. Some babies are allergic to the protein in breast milk or cow's milk.
If the digestive tract is very sensitive, milk protein can trigger severe inflammation of the intestine, causing bloody stools.
Inflammation of the intestine then triggers bleeding. Blood finally comes out with feces.
To deal with bloody bowel movements due to allergies, parents need to recognize what baby food triggers allergies and not give it to their little one.
5. Operations to treat bloody bowel movements in babies
The operation is chosen if the bloody stool is caused by the formation of polyps, which are tissue that grows abnormally (stem) in certain parts of the body, including the intestines.
The formation of polyps in the intestine has several symptoms, one of which is bloody stools. Surgery aims to remove polyps from the intestine.
After the polyp has been removed, the baby may still have bloody stools during the recovery period. However, his condition should improve in a few days.
Bloody bowel movements in your little one is a fairly common condition. However, immediately get your child checked by a doctor if you experience:
- Dehydration
- The stool is blackish in color
- Reddish urine
- Experiencing diarrhea
- Gag
- Fever in children
Doctor's examination is also useful to find out the various factors that cause bloody stools. If parents understand the cause, they can deal with bloody bowel movements in babies appropriately.
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