Bloody diarrhoea 6/yo

[Frecklesandspecs]

My daughter started getting tummy pains nd diarrhoea about 6 days ago.
I put it down to a common tummy bug.
Yesterday she started getting some blood in it and overnight more.
I've got an appointment with Dr this pm but now worried because of the blood and no let up.
Anyone experienced this please?
Also will I need a stool sample?

She's in generally good health but on the small/fragile side.
She has a history of food allergies (which she hasn't eaten anything of to cause this) and asthma but never had this before.

Sent stool sample off, back for appointment Friday. She is still bleeding down there. She's getting intermittent stomach cramps but ok rest of time.
Anyone?

Poor her. Is there a lot of blood? Is it bright red or darker? Did doc say anything about avoiding dairy or anything?

Hi POB, thanks for reply. She has had blood about 4/5 times in stools. Bright red. It's a fair amount (dripping into loo with it)
She says her bottom isn't itchy or doesn't hurt so probably not piles or anything.
She did have milk allergy up until about 1.5 years but fine with it now.
Still has allergies to egg, fish and nuts but she never eats these anyway.
Waiting for results on Friday. X

Has she been tested for Ceoliac? small and fragile with multiple allergies makes me think of that.

Bright blood is fresh blood, so she could have a tear or crack at the anal opening.

Has she had any antibiotics recently?

I know of two children (one a family member, one the ds of a friend) who had bloody diarrhoea and stomach pains. Both received the same diagnosis (nothing sinister).

I know you must be worried. It's always frightening to see blood and I know how your mind gallops away. There are lots of reasons why this could be happening and hopefully, the stool sample will give you the answers you need.

Did your GP realise there was this much blood?
What are they testing the stool for? Clearly it will be positive for blood. So what else are they looking for??
Is she ok in herself? Eating? drinking?
Does she have any history of liver problems? Any other health problems?

Sounds to me like its gone on a bit long, I would be heading to the hospital myself for blood tests and further investigations.

Foggy, no she hasn't. Could this be a possibility then? Thanks
SOH, no antibiotics recently. Yes, waiting for Friday to put mind at rest.
Tbh, I don't know blue. Maybe infection? They didn't say.
She is drinking ok, been eating less past week R so but still managing some.
She has a history of allergies and asthma. (been admitted several times with attacks but nothing recently)

I also w's thinking today that I have seen mucous in stools before now.
No history of liver probs but she often looks pale. (she mixed race so difficult to say but she's never had a healthy glow.
I have two other kids who are much better built and just look healthier in general iykwim?

5 blue, I'm not sure. It wasn't enough to turn all the toilet water red but drops in toilet and a lot on wiping.

I think ceoliac is certainly worth asking about. As its damages the gut, growth can be affected (due to nutrients not being absorbed). Paler than usual could mean low iron levels for example. I think very dark shadows (almost like bruises) under the eyes can be a sign too.

Foggy, yes, she has those dark rings under eyes. Always put it down to her allergies but very noticeable.

Op, has the doc prescribed antibiotics or anything while you are waiting for the stool results? Bleeding such as you describe should not be left untreated for too long so I would take her back repeatedly and push for treatment/referral. If that fails take her to A&E if the bleeding continues and she is still poorly.

To add context, my concern is that it is some kind of inflammatory bowel condition and the longer it goes untreated the greater the risk of permanent damage to her bowel. At least if a broad spectrum antibiotic has been prescribed you would expect to see some sort of improvement and if not it needs escalating quickly to determine whether steroid treatment or similar is needed to bring the inflammation under control.

(I have experience of similar symptoms, gp dallied waiting for stool results for 4 days. We were fortunate to have private insurance and went straight to a Gastroenterologist who was furious with gps delays and was touch and go whether the large intestine could be saved by that point. As it turned out, recovery on steroids was miraculous and left no lasting damage, but I would hate to see a child in that situation).

She very definitely shouldn't be on antibiotics in this situation. Bloody diarrhoea in a child may be verotoxigenic E coli, antibiotics would make it worse.

The stool culture will take 48-72hrs. What to do depends how she is. The GP has actually seen her and is presumably happy to wait for the stool result. But if you are really worried, you could call the practice in the morning, ask to speak to the duty GP and ask them if she needs a full blood count and renal function checking. They would likely send you to peads in your nearest hospital for this, depending how old she is.

Does intermittent stomach cramps happen certain times?( after eating,
empty stomach etc.)

My ds has food allergies, so when he had stomach cramps, the doctors seemed to assume it was something to do with it.
Also it happened little after eating and goes away, Dr. didn't take me seriously.(He looked ok when seen by Dr.) He didn't have change in stool until later stage, so it took us 3 months(back and force to GP and A&E)until he was finally diagnosed.
He needed surgery straight away, but had to wait 7days while fasting, because he had developed pancreatitis along the way!

I think my ds's case is a extreme one, but if you are unhappy, make sure you become "that parent" for child's sake.

Hope it's going to get sorted soon!

Thank you so much for your replies.
The GP didn't prescribe anything.
She was ok yesterday (She went to school, I spoke with school for ok, but not sure if she should be? Eek)
Is it possible to ring pathology at the hospital to ask for results?
If she has more bleeding I think I'll take her to A and E.
Basically, she's had diarrhoea about 5 days with no blood then had about 2 days with blood in it. (3/4 times)
I'm not sure when she's having the cramps. It's seems a bit random. They don't seem to last long. Assuming it's cramps as she starts moaning /crying for a couple of minutes, often going to the toilet after and then seems better.

How old is she? She shouldn't normally be at school if she has diarrhoea anyway until 48 hours after symptoms end - I appreciate you discussed with them so not your fault, but there is quite a high risk that whatever she has is infectious and she could be passing it around. Is she really well enough for school?

You've done the right thing in getting a stool sample done - that will tell you whether it's one of the nastier food poisoning bugs, which you can pick up in surprising ways. I don't think there is much point ringing pathology, I don't know whether they'd tell you and sometimes initial results can be confusing for the lay person (assuming you are?). If they do get a positive result for an unpleasant bug they should will be fast tracking that information to the GP anyway.

I think I would keep a close eye on her and if the symptoms/ bleeding get worse I would be straight back onto the GP.

Has she has anything like a barbecue, contact with farm animals, country expedition before the symptoms started?

Like UpTheRoadToday said, in case you are still worried after seen GP,
It's better to be referred to nearest peads rather than A&E.

My ds's case was a very rare one. Don't worry too much.

No barbecues or farm visits. (They have a couple of rabbit in their classroom which they get out for the kids to hold ?!)
She hasn't had any vomiting or fever.
I'd asked teacher to keep an eye on her yesterday and she said she was fine (no tummy aches). She had Monday and Tuesday off. (always worrying because of them barking on about attendance but I do agree, maybe I should have kept her off this week.
I didn't think it was anything catching as her siblings and is haven't had anything similar.

She does sometimes eat different things at school to the others because of her allergies.

If it were the start of an IBD, how l long would the symptoms last?
Irvine, what was your dc diagnosed with?

i think the class bunny is OK

Poorly cooked meat would be my other thought, but if the stool sample is positive for food poisoning they will ask all this stuff anyway.

Just seen she's 6. DD is 7 and I know exactly what schools are like about attendance but really she shouldn't be in until 48 hours after the diarrhoea is over, unless you know it's a non infectious cause. School won't thank you if they have an outbreak of diarrhoea either. Is she at home today?

I would rather not say, since it's rare, it might out myself.(Sorry.)

It was really difficult thing for Dr. to diagnose, but after admission to hospital(and spend 7days testing blood, stool etc.),They still couldn't find anything.
They decided to discharge him again, but DR sent him for scan, just in case.

We were getting ready to go home, than Dr came running and we were sent to a specialist hospital. It was horrible. One single ultrasound can have prevented his suffering for three month.

That's why I regret not being "that parent" and insisted them to test him sooner.

Quick update. Went to Drs for result. Were in there about 2 minutes (after getting all three kids into car in a mad panic from school to get there on time)
No results.
"we'll call you if there's a problem"

Daughter has been clear of diarrhoea since but still has some tummy pain at bottom. Seems quite well in herself though.

diarrhea affects the balance of the electrolytes in the blood. Check with dr re putting a pinch of salt and sugar in water for her to drink..

It sounds textbook for E. Coli, although a few other bugs can do this.
Very glad to hear that she seems to be recovering.

Thank you both. Shouldn't they report it or something if it's e coli Lijkk.
They'd have to let me know surely?