Blood-colored material mixed in with the stool, on the surface or passed separately.
Blood in the stools is usually bright red.
Blood from bleeding in the stomach comes out tar-black.
Cause
Main Cause: anal fissure
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If
Also has diarrhea, see DIARRHEA
(To go directly to this topic, click on the link following this document.)
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR STOOLS, BLOOD IN
Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance) If
Fainted or too weak to stand
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
Your child looks or acts very sick
Large amount of blood, blood alone without any stool or the toilet water turned red
Tarry or black-colored stool
Blood with diarrhea
Pink- or tea-colored urine
Vomited blood
Abdominal pain or crying also present
Skin bruises not caused by an injury
Age < 12 weeks
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If
Blood in the stools, but none of the symptoms described above (probably anal fissure) (NOTE: Try to save a sample of the "blood" for testing if your child needs to be seen)
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR ANAL FISSURE (Pending Talking with Your Doctor)
1. Definition:An anal fissure is the #1 cause of blood in stools
The blood is bright red, but only a few streaks or flecks are present
All the blood is on the surface of the stool or on the toilet tissue after wiping
Usually follows passage of a large or hard bowel movement (BM)
You may see a shallow tear at 6 or 12 o'clock on the anus
2. Warm Saline Baths: Give warm saline baths for 20 minutes 3 times per day to cleanse the area and to promote healing. Add 2 oz. of table salt or baking soda to a tub of warm water.
3. Ointments: If the anus seems irritated, apply 1% hydrocortisone ointment 3 times per day to help healing.
4. High-Fiber Diet: For children more than 1 year old, offer a nonconstipating diet. Increase fruits, vegetables and grains (fiber). Reduce milk products to 3 servings per day. If CONSTIPATION is definitely the cause, see that topic.
5. Expected Course: Anal fissures usually heal up quickly with home treatment.
6. Call Your Doctor If
Bleeding increases in amount
The bleeding recurs > 2 times after treatment begins.
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
