Patient's question:
The baby is four months and five days old, and they are eating formula and rice cereal. However, the baby has two to three bowel movements every day. The first one is relatively dry (but not very hard), while the last one or two are looser (thick and sticky). What could be the reason for this? Today, their second bowel movement also had a little bit of blood in it. I'm so worried.Doctor's answer:
Hello, first of all, I wish your child a speedy recovery! Let me talk to you about "hematochezia." Gastrointestinal bleeding expelled through the intestines results in bloody stools or complete bloody stools, with colors ranging from bright red, dark red, to black, tarry-like. The color of the bloody stool depends on the location of the bleeding, the amount of bleeding, and the time the blood stays in the gastrointestinal tract. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (small intestine, colon, rectum, anus) often results in bright red or dark red stools. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (esophagus, stomach, duodenum) often results in black, tarry-like stools. Causes Hematochezia is generally classified into fresh blood stools, black, tarry-like stools, and occult blood stools.