When you change a diaper, you are shocked: there is blood in your baby's stool. Now what? As you might imagine, this is not at all common and may indicate some serious health conditions.

What does it mean to find blood in the baby's stool?

"Finding blood in a baby's stool could mean some diseases, so the baby should be closely observed and the pediatrician should be immediately informed, so that he/she can rule out some infectious or inflammatory pathologies, or even food allergies, the most common of which is allergy to cow's milk protein", explains pediatrician Ana Loch.

The main causes, according to the doctor, are infectious diseases that arise from viruses or bacteria such as Salmonella , Shigella, E. Coli or Campylobacter as well as parasitic diseases, such as those caused by amoebae.

"In addition, blood in the stool can occur due to inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative rectocolitis, constipation, and also food allergies, among which APLV is the most common among babies," he adds.

Importance of identifying

It is always important to see the child's pediatrician to make a differential diagnosis, either clinically or through tests, and follow the prescribed course of action," explains obstetric nurse Cinthia Calsinski.

One example is dry stools, which can be treated by increasing the intake of water and fiber in the diet. If the baby has an allergy to cow's milk protein, cow's milk should be excluded from the mother's diet (if the baby is still breastfeeding exclusively) or a special formula should be used to treat the condition.

"In the case of an infectious condition, it is important to first keep the child well hydrated, and assess the need to introduce antibiotics or some probiotics," says the pediatrician.

Read also: Diaper rash: learn how to identify and avoid it

Treatment of blood in the baby's stool

The first step, then, is to seek professional advice as soon as the child's guardian notices blood in the stool, unless it is clear that this bleeding is the result of an injury in the diaper area, for example.

"At the same time, you should intensify your baby's hydration to avoid dry stools, as well as investigate if there has been any change in feeding, something that justifies the bleeding (allergy) and observe if it could be an infectious condition, if there is fever or other concomitant symptoms, tothat the pediatrician evaluates the need for antibiotic treatment", Ana advises.

Once the cause is identified, it is possible to prevent its occurrence through better hydration of the baby, more fiber-rich diet, exclusion of possible allergens from the diet in the case of food allergies, and in the case of infectious causes, paying attention to possible risks of contamination with water and food offered to the child, hygiene conditions, etc.

Sources: Ana Loch, pediatrician and Cinthia Calsinki, obstetric nurse