Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a sign that something is wrong within the digestive tract. It is not uncommon in children and can occur in newborns or children of any age as well as adults.
Bleeding can occur anywhere along the digestive tract and is most often noticed either when a child vomits blood, or blood in the stools. When a child vomits blood (hematemesis), it can look red or brown with tiny dots resembling ground coffee. When there is blood in the stools, these can look red, marron, or black, like tar.
Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract can occur at any age. It can have multiple causes. However, it is always abnormal and requires medical attention.
Severe bleeding can be accompanied by other symptoms such as little to no urination, cold or clammy hands or feet, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath. These patients warrant an urgent evaluation by a doctor, as sudden, severe bleeding can cause children to go into shock.
Causes
Many things can cause GI bleeding. The most common causes vary with the age of the child. Among the medical conditions that can cause bleeding are:
- Allergies (allergic colitis)
- Abnormal blood vessels in the digestive tract (varices/ angiodysplasia)
- Ingested foreign bodies
- Infections by viruses, bacteria, or parasites
- Inflammation, including Inflammatory bowel disease
- Tears in the esophagus after vomiting (Mallory-Weiss syndrome)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Ulcers
- Blood coagulation disorders
- Hemorrhoids or anal fissures/tears
- Polyps in the GI tract
- Diverticular disease
- Tumors along the digestive tract
Diagnosis & Treatment
At SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, we have a team of experts who can diagnose and treat GI bleeding. Doctors will examine your child and conduct a medical history. Depending on the initial assessment, laboratory tests and imaging studies may be ordered.
In some cases, a special camera (endoscope) is used to look inside the GI tract. This procedure is done under anesthesia, and it allows the doctors to treat some of the causes of bleeding.
Once the area and cause of bleeding is determined, will determine the best treatment, including prescribing medications, surgery, or special X-ray-guided therapies.