Patient's question:
The baby has had diarrhea for a month, intermittent. Today's stool routine test showed 0-1 white blood cells, weakly positive OB. I want to know what this is all about? The doctor prescribed Nisong. Is there any side effect for a 5-month-old baby to take this medicine? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
Hello: A weakly positive OB result indicates the presence of occult blood in the stool. Hematochezia is not uncommon in children, and its appearance can be either mixed with the stool or not. It may manifest as bright red, pink, dark red, or black stool (apparent hematochezia); in some cases, the stool color may appear normal, but blood is detected during stool tests, which is medically referred to as positive occult blood (hidden hematochezia). Hematochezia often occurs without other symptoms and may be easily overlooked by parents. Chronic hematochezia (either occult or apparent) inevitably leads to slow or arrested development in children, and severe cases can affect heart function, dizziness, and intellectual development, requiring parents' vigilance and high attention.Hematochezia in children can occur at any age, from birth to adulthood. The most common causes are intestinal polyps and congenital anomalies of intestinal development. Different diseases may manifest hematochezia at different stages of life. In school-aged and preschool children, delayed diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition due to hematochezia can lead to serious complications such as intestinal obstruction or perforation, thereby affecting the child's physical and mental health and academic performance. The key to identifying the cause and location of hematochezia is to perform a colonoscopy (also known as an endoscopy). The advantage of this examination is that it allows direct visualization of the cause, identifies the bleeding site, and can achieve hemostasis and simultaneously. Our pediatric surgery department has been performing colonoscopies for over ten years, treating hundreds of children without any incidents.
In summary, if a child experiences hematochezia, it is advisable to seek medical attention as soon as possible to identify the bleeding site and cause, enabling early and effective treatment to prevent serious complications and minimize harm to the child.