BLOOD IN STOOLS

Cause

The commonest cause in children for the appearance of blood in the stools (or bowel movements) is a small anal tear. This can happen if your child is constipated

A rarer cause is inflammatory bowel disease, in particular ulcerative colitis.

When to see your doctor

• if there is a large amount of blood in the stool;

• if the stool is black (this indicates that blood is mixed in with the stool and occurs with internal bleeding);

• if in addition your child has diarrhoea;

• if your child complains of abdominal pain;

• if your child has a fever or is generally unwell in addition to any of the symptoms above.

COELIAC DISEASE

A child who was celiac disease is unable to digest gluten, which is protein found in wheat and rye. Many foods contain gluten, and these must be avoided in such children. This cause of celiac disease is uncertain, although it does tend to run in families. The characteristic signs are poor appetite, chronic diarrhea and a bloated abdomen.

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