February 10, 2012
Topics A-Z Children's Health Blood in Stool
Blood in Stool |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: My 15 year old son just informed me he had blood when he went poop? Should I take him to Emergency? Dear Dallas: Blood in the stool may come from anywhere along the digestive tract, from mouth to anus. It may be present in such small amounts that you cannot actually see it, but it is only detectable by a fecal occult blood test. When there is enough blood to change the appearance of your stools, the doctor will want to know the exact color to help find the site of bleeding. I would suggest you to take your son to his primary care physician first to confirm the diagnosis of blood in stools with a simple stool sample and also some blood work. This could be just an unusual event perhaps due to constipation or it can also be the first sign of a probable ulcer or gastritis. Anyways a more detailed history and evaluation would be needed to rule out the exact diagnosis. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 26 July 2010 ) |
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