Causes of occult blood in newborn stool

We all know that once the baby has blood in the stool, parents will be particularly worried and afraid. They don’t know what the cause is and are afraid that it will have a great impact on the baby’s health. There are many reasons for such symptoms. In order to effectively prevent and treat this symptom, we must grasp its cause. Let’s take a look at the cause of occult blood in newborn stools.

Causes of occult blood in neonates' stool

1. The mother's nipples are ulcerated and bleeding: During breastfeeding, especially in the early stages, the mother's nipples are prone to ulceration. If the child swallows the blood from the mother's nipples, the stool will contain a small amount of pink or red substance. The stool test will not detect red blood cells, but occult blood can be detected. In this case, the child usually eats normally and grows normally, so parents do not need to worry.

2. Taking iron supplements (iron foods): If a child takes a multivitamin preparation or iron supplement containing iron, it is impossible for all of the iron to be absorbed, and a small amount will be excreted through the intestines. At this time, the stool may contain dark brown spots, and the stool occult blood will be positive. This condition has nothing to do with the child's intestinal development or disease. As long as the child grows normally, there is no need to worry.

3. Damage to the small intestinal mucosa: If the small intestinal mucosa is damaged, the stool will also contain red substances, and the stool test for occult blood will be positive. Accidental ingestion of medication or foreign objects can cause damage to the intestinal mucosa, but for babies, this possibility is very small. Most intestinal damage is caused by food, the most common of which is milk.

The intestines cannot tolerate certain foods, causing damage to the small intestinal mucosa and blood to enter the intestinal cavity. Since the blood stays in the intestine for a while before being excreted with the stool, it will be destroyed by the intestinal fluid during this period. Therefore, stool testing can only detect occult blood in the stool, but no red blood cells. However, this small intestinal damage can persist without a change in diet, causing the child to have slowed growth and development.

4. Disinfectants damage the intestines: Some chemicals, especially disinfectants, can also cause damage to the intestinal mucosa. Parents believe that disinfection can keep children away from germs, but the children's chances of being exposed to disinfectants have also increased significantly. Over time, chronic ingestion of disinfectants has become the culprit of intestinal damage. If parents use clean water instead of disinfectant wipes, the child's bowel movements will soon return to normal.

5. Anal fissure: If fresh blood is visible in the stool and the blood is attached to the surface of the stool, and examination shows the presence of red blood cells, it is most likely caused by anal fissure. The child may cry and have difficulty defecating, but the stool may not be dry and hard. Because the anal sphincter of infants is not fully developed and the coordination of contraction and relaxation is not perfect, small cracks often occur during defecation, resulting in a small amount of blood in the stool. At this time, apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment on the anus and the condition will soon improve.

The above is an introduction to the causes of occult blood in newborn stools. After understanding it, we know that there are many reasons for this phenomenon, and it is not necessarily caused by disease, so mothers must pay special attention when taking care of their babies. In addition, when such symptoms appear, you must not blindly use medication to treat your baby. You must consult a doctor in time, and after examination and confirmation, treat under the guidance of a doctor.