Black poop in 2 year toddler

[sparkles311]

Hi all,

I would need an advice on this if anybody has experienced this. My DS had a dark poop on thursday. To be it seemed black. I had called the GP immediately. He asked us upload pics via a link which I did. After waiting for 4 to 5 hours, I got a call. And the GP tells me just by seeing photos its melena. I stood shocked. I asked if I should take him to A&E. To this he said to monitor for 2 days. If he still has black poop he needs to be taken to hospital. What I forgot to mention to doctor is DS had couple of oreo cookies the day before. I am actually still in a shock. The doctor didn't even ask for a stool test but declared melena. And now what if we ask for a stool test. Need your suggestions ladies.

Thanks

How scary! Is it still black or was it a one off? If it’s still black then I’d take him to A&E, if not and he isn’t showing any other signs of being unwell, then I’d prob leave it. I have no medical qualifications or experience, just replying as a mum of 2!

@EmmaMY: No it was only once! After that the second poop was a mixture of dark n yellow. But it's not black for sure. After that poop, all others had been yellow. One thing that doctor said melena is not necessarily always serious. I don't know. I searched all over internet. Everywhere its mentioned serious. Really confused whether we should ask the doctor for further investigations. Easter holidays started after that. I had called up the A&E but they refused to take him in. They said if he did have black poop again then we should get him to A&E. Really difficult times. And I am not getting any peace of mind.

My 3yo seems to have very, very dark poos when she's had too much sweet stuff. I've not sought advice so don't know if it's a cause.

Melena is black, tarry, sticky and stinks to high heaven with a characteristic smell like no other.
I would put my money on the oreo cookies tbh.

Hi All,
Thanks for your replies. Can I upload a couple of pics. Not sure if it would be offensive to upload poop pics. I am actually confused. To me it appeared black. It did seem sticky too. It was actually not hard. But it didn't have any different kind of smell or anything that I couldn't bear it . I took pictures very closely but still couldn't feel awful. DS has been very active and no other signs of unwell. Except for a runny nose which he got after joining nursery.

My son has black poo after he eats loads of blueberries.

I was going to say blueberries too! It’s greeny black.

If it was a one-off I would be thinking something they ate too. DCs would often get black-ish poos after eating far too many blueberries or spinach. Then there was the time the childminder rang with a "I don't want to worry you, but...". DC had done a neon green poo, which turned out was the result of a blue bubblegum flavoured icecream (eaten the previous day as a bribe for needing an injection). She had never seen one so vibrant in colour 😂

My son Was admitted to hospital with melena when he was 3. PP is right that it's a very thick, tarry poop with a distinctive smell. A one off black poo is unlikely to be melena.

Thanks to each of you for sharing your experiences and thoughts on this.

@Fullofthejoysofspring: I am really sorry to know about your experience. But can you share more details with me like what were the other symptoms? And tests and treatment. Basically I would like to know the whole of it. It seriously a scarry thing. Our son doesn't even talk so it's much harder to even understand. And it's all making me crazy. If you want you can pm me.