Introduction to the condition of neonatal gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding in newborns has a relatively large impact on them, because it is easy for newborns to vomit blood or have bloody stools. Therefore, parents must pay attention to these problems when taking care of their children. Because no matter what disease it is, the harm caused to a newborn will be very serious. Now let us specifically understand some of the conditions of gastrointestinal bleeding in newborns.

1. Pseudo-gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by swallowing blood from the mother's birth canal or sucking on cracked nipples, and no treatment is required. When a newborn swallows his own blood from the nasopharynx or mouth and vomits blood, the cause should be identified and treated appropriately.

2. True gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by gastrointestinal diseases or be a symptom of systemic diseases. The latter is a manifestation of disseminated intravascular coagulation in the late stage of neonatal spontaneous hemorrhage, sepsis or other critical systemic illnesses. Except for spontaneous hemorrhage of the newborn, most other diseases are serious and have poor prognosis. Infection, deformity, trauma and acute abdomen in digestive tract diseases can all cause vomiting blood and/or bloody stools. Infection can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Many newborn babies have a small amount of stringy blood in their stools for unknown reasons, and bacillary dysentery is occasionally seen. Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis is common in premature infants or those with a history of birth asphyxia. Hypoxia causes damage to the intestinal mucosa, leading to secondary infection, ulcers and bleeding. Stress ulcers in the stomach caused by hypoxia can cause massive vomiting of blood and bloody stools. Reflux esophagitis can also be a cause of vomiting blood. Trauma such as digital rectal examination, anal tube enema or radiography, and temperature measurement with a rectal thermometer can damage the anal canal and cause blood in the stool. Anal fissures are also often accompanied by bleeding. Intussusception in acute abdomen occasionally occurs in neonates, either idiopathic or due to milk clots. Gastrointestinal malformations such as intestinal duplication and Meckel's diverticulum can be the cause of bleeding, but the most common is intestinal malrotation combined with intestinal torsion and hypoplastic gastric wall muscle layer, which causes blood in the stool and/or vomiting. The condition is critical and requires emergency surgical treatment.

The color and amount of gastrointestinal bleeding are related to the cause. Note that upper gastrointestinal bleeding may cause blood in the stool, and lower gastrointestinal bleeding may also cause vomiting of blood as the main symptom. The diagnosis should be made as early as possible based on medical history, symptoms and signs, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations.

The treatment should decide whether to fast based on the condition, and those who fast need total parenteral nutrition. Symptomatic treatment includes the use of hemostatic drugs and, if necessary, transfusion of fresh blood. Disseminated intravascular coagulation should be treated comprehensively according to the cause. Surgical bleeding should be actively prepared for surgery.

Neonatal gastrointestinal bleeding can be divided into false gastrointestinal bleeding and true gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, mothers must pay attention to and understand these common sense. Only by understanding the physical health status of newborns can they provide good care and treatment according to their condition and reduce adverse injuries.