Bloody diarrhea in infants is not common and should therefore be studied quickly, as it is usually associated with intestinal infections, rotaviruses, bacteria or worms; other common causes are cow’s milk allergy and fissures; a serious cause is intestinal invagination, which should be treated promptly in the hospital.
As soon as there are more than three bowel movements a day, with poop more liquid than usual, with a different color, a strong odor or in the presence of blood, the baby should be taken to the pediatrician to look for the cause.and treatment can be initiated. Learn how to recognize diarrhea in your baby.
- Until the appointment.
- It is important to properly moisturize the baby and maintain his or her usual diet.
- Avoiding the supports that hold the intestine.
- As this can aggravate the infection and aggravate symptoms.
Bloody diarrhea in infants is a concern, but it can be easily treated by seeing your pediatrician and identifying the cause.The most common causes of bloody diarrhea in infants are:
Viral infection is mainly caused by rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhea, with strong smell of rotten eggs, vomiting and fever, and usually affects infants between 6 months and 2 years Rotavirus infection is characterized by at least three liquid or soft bowel movements with blood during the day and can last 8 to 10 days.Vaccination is the most common way to prevent rotavirus infection.
Some bacteria can cause bloody diarrhea in infants, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella.
Escherichia coli is part of the population of microorganisms in the human gut, however some types of E.coli are most harmful and can cause gastroenteritis, characterized by bloody diarrhea and/or mucous membranes, as well as fever, vomiting and abdominal pain… These most harmful types are present in the environment, so it is possible to be contaminated by these types through contact with contaminated food and water.Symptoms of E.coli infection appear a few hours after infection and can be treated shortly after infection.laboratory confirmation.
Salmonella and Shigella infections occur when they come into contact with water or food contaminated with animal faeces.Salmonella infection is called salmonellosis and is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever and bloody diarrhea.Symptoms of the infection usually appear between 12 and 72 hours.after infection The symptoms of shigellosis, which is a Shigella infection, are the same as those of salmonellosis and appear after one or two days of infection.
Because babies are used to taking everything they see in their mouths and playing a lot on the ground, infections with these bacteria are common, so the best way to prevent infections is to properly wash your baby’s hands and food, as well as try to avoid contact with foreign and potentially polluting surfaces.
Worms are very common in areas where hygiene and sanitation are inadequate, the presence of worms in the intestine can promote the development of bloody diarrhea, which reach the intestine by accidental ingestion of eggs of these parasites in the soil and food.The hygiene and care of the objects the baby is in contact with are very important, see what the symptoms of the worm are.
Hemorrhagic colitis can occur at any age, including infants, although it is rare. It is an irritation of the intestine caused by the presence of several sores (ulcers) that cause bloody diarrhea. To treat colitis, your doctor often indicates medications to stop diarrhea and use certain dietary supplements.Learn more about ulcerative colitis.
Intestinal invagination, also known as intestinal invagination, is a serious condition in which one part of the intestine slides into another, which can disrupt the passage of blood to that part and cause a serious infection, obstruction, perforation of the intestine and even death of tissue.In addition to bloody diarrhea, other symptoms such as severe abdominal pain and irritability may also occur.
As soon as there is bloody diarrhea in babies, the most recommended attitude is to go to the pediatrician so that the cause can be identified so that the ideal treatment can be established.In addition, it is very important that the baby drinks a lot of water to avoid the risk of dehydration.It is also recommended not to eat foods that catch the intestine in the early days of diarrhea, as the virus, bacteria or worms may leave.
For rotavirus infection, treatment usually involves fever medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and oral rehydration solutions.In bacterial infections, antibiotics may be prescribed, which vary by bacteria.For parasite infections, the use of metronidazole.Senidazole or tinidazole is usually indicated according to medical advice.For colitis, treatment is defined according to your doctor’s evaluation, which can range from antibiotic or anti-inflammatory use to a balanced diet.
In case of intestinal invagination, it is recommended to start treatment as soon as possible in the hospital, in these cases the doctor usually does an air enema to try to place the intestine in the right place and surgery is rarely necessary.