DARK MAROON SOLID CHUNKS - FOUND IN THE STOOL

[salpat]

HI,
I HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD SON WITH AUTISM. HE HAS CONSTIPATION PROBLEMS, NOT ABLE TO GAIN WEIGHT EASILY ETC.
WE STARTED HIM ON 'OXYPOWDER' AROUND 3 MONTHS AGO. HE WOULD HAVE 1 - 2 BM's A DAY.
LAST WEEK - ON TUESDAY HE STARTED CRYING AS IF HE HAS SOME EXCRUTIATING PAIN. HE IS UNABLE TO SPEAK. SO WE DID AND X-RAY OF HIS ABDOMEN AND FOUND THAT HE HAS LOT OF STOOL ACCUMULATED IN THE LARGE INTESTINE.
WE GAVE HIM 3 FLEET ENEMAS, 2 HOME ENEMAS AND INCREASED OXYPOWDER TO 6 CAPS PER DAY FOR 2 DAYS AND ARE GIVING 5 CAPS PER DAY FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS.
TODAY AFTERNOON HE HAD 3 WATERY BM's AT SCHOOL. HIS TEACHER SAID THAT SHE SAW 4 TO 5 CHUNKS WHICH WERE DARK MAROON IN COLOR. THE NURSE SAID IT MIGHT BE OLD BLOOD,

MY QUESTION IS - WHAT COULD BE THOSE PIECES? COULD IT BE OLD FECAL MATTER AND/OR BLOOD? IS IT SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

ANYBODY HAVING SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.
I WOULD REALLY APRECIATE IF YOU COULD RESPOND TO MY MAIL ASAP.

THANKS,
SMITA

[Health Dr. 2]

Hi

The child needs to go have an evaluation with a practitioner.

Blood in the stool can originate from anywhere along your digestive tract, from mouth to anus. It may be present in such small amounts that you cannot actually see it, but is only detectable by a fecal occult blood test. When there IS enough blood to change the appearance of your stools, the doctor will typically want to know the exact color to try to estimate the site of bleeding. To make a definite diagnosis, however, endoscopy or special x-ray studies are needed.

A black stool usually means that the blood is coming from the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This includes the esophagus, stomach, or first part of the small intestine. Blood will typically appear like tar after it has been exposed to the body's digestive juices. Stomach ulcers caused by ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin are common causes of upper GI bleeding.

Maroon-colored stools or bright red blood usually suggest that the blood is coming from the lower part of the GI tract (large bowel or rectum). Hemorrhoids and diverticulitis (inflammation of an abnormal pouch in the colon called a diverticulum) are the most common causes of lower GI bleeding. However, sometimes massive or rapid bleeding in the stomach causes bright red stools.

Consuming black licorice, lead, iron pills, bismuth medicines like Pepto-Bismol, or blueberries can also cause black stools. Beets and tomatoes can sometimes make stools appear reddish. In these cases, your doctor can test the stool with a chemical to rule out the presence of blood.

Brisk bleeding in the esophagus or stomach (such as peptic ulcer disease), can also cause you to vomit blood.

Causes

Upper GI tract (usually black stools):
Bleeding stomach or duodenal ulcer
Gastritis
Esophageal varices
Mallory-Weiss tear (a tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting)
Trauma or foreign body
Bowel ischemia (a lack of proper blood flow to the intestines)
Vascular malformation

Lower GI tract (usually maroon or bright red, bloody stools):

Hemorrhoids
Anal fissures
Diverticular bleeding
Intestinal infection (such as bacterial enterocolitis)
Vascular malformation
Inflammatory bowel disease
Tumor
Colon polyps or colon cancer
Trauma or foreign body
Bowel ischemia (a lack of proper blood flow to the intestines)

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor if you notice blood or changes in the color of your stool. Even if you think that hemorrhoids are causing blood in your stool, your doctor should examine you in order to make sure that there is no other, more serious cause present at the same time.

In children, a small amount of blood in the stool is usually not serious. The most common causes are constipation and milk allergies. But it is still worth reporting to your doctor, even if no workup is necessary.

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, focusing on your abdomen and rectum.

The following questions may be included in the history to better understand the possible causes of your bloody or dark stools:

Is there blood on the toilet paper only?

What color is the stool?
When did it develop?
Have you had more than one episode of blood in your stool? Is every stool this way?
Are you taking blood thinners or NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin)?
Have you ingested black licorice, lead, Pepto-Bismol, or blueberries?
Have you had any abdominal trauma or swallowed a foreign object accidentally?
What other symptoms are also present -- abdominal pain, vomiting blood, bloating, excessive gas (flatus), diarrhea, or fever?
Have you lost any weight recently?

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the bleeding. For serious bleeding, you may need to be admitted to a hospital for monitoring and workup. If there is massive bleeding, you will need to be monitored in an intensive care unit. Emergency treatment may include a blood transfusion.

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

Blood studies, including a CBC and blood differential
Colonoscopy
Gastroscopy or EGD
Bleeding scan
Angiography
Barium studies
Stool culture
X-rays of the abdomen
Tests for the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection

Take Care & Be Well
Health Dr. 2

[Changingmylife]

health dr. 2, can I ask you what a "fecal occult blood test" is? what on earth does the occult have to do with this?

[Changingmylife]

never mind, i found out for myself. no worries