Advice please. My 4 year old just passed a stool and it had blood in it.

[Fightingtobepositive]

As the heading as said. DS aged 4 has just had a bath laughing his socks off with his father and needed to come out for a poo. I noticed that it had blood in it. DS didn’t seem to be bothered at all, had no idea and carried on about his day. He’s been busy and happy all day. He is in the middle of a mucussy cough and cold.

im an anxious wreck and worrying myself silly. He’s gone to bed now. But I’m thinking should I ring 111 or wait until morning for the doctors.

any similar experiences or advice please.

I’m not a medical professional, and forgive me for being graphic but was it bright red and on the outside of the poo (more likely to be from a small tear if he’s strained) or darker / within the poo suggesting that it’s older or come from higher up? Either way calling 111 can’t hurt.

We’ve had this and it has always been because of a fissure just inside the bum. With both my boys it’s not usually the poo after the cut that hurts it’s usually passing the hard poo that’s caused cut which produces a reaction. I think if he’s been otherwise well in himself you’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about but always check with a doctor. If nothing else they can have a quick look inside and confirm the cut. I wouldn’t worry very much at all, if it was something more serious he’d have other symptoms I’m sure x

@CheeseWisely yes it was bright red and at the end of quite a big poo. Although he always has large poos. He didn’t complain at the time which I find strange.

The other poster explains it really well. If the poo is dark then it might be more of an issue but if its normal and there’s a streak outside it’s likely a cut x

@ICSH1 yes it was bright red and at the end of quite a big poo. Although he always has large poos. He didn’t complain at the time which I find strange.

Most likely from an anal fissure/tear, although you’d think it would be a bit sore at the time if that was the case. Was it definitely blood and not something they’d eaten?

Are you sure it wasn’t food? Tomatoes red peppers etc? I would take a look tomorrow when he poos and see if it happens again, and if it does then ring the GP.

yes defo blood. Because he was wet from the bath we noticed a slightly tinged water on the toilet seat. Yes defo blood. I have a picture but I’ll spare you all that.

I bet being in the bath relaxed things a little bit though, so there might not have been too much friction when he did his poo. Honestly both my boys were fine after the poo that made their cuts and when I was pregnant I had this all the time! I’d know when I’d had a cut but afterwards it was never that bad

Hesitant to give advice, but it sounds to me like his poo was rather hard and large and grazed his back passage on the way down. I get this sometimes, and find it usually means I need more fibre and water to make the poos break up more and the bits be smoother. I would just keep an eye I think. If it's a one off, probably it's ok.

@ICSH1 @stichguru thanks both. Mumsnet always helps calm my nerves (even if only slightly) I’ll ring the docs in the morning to be sure.

it was quite large and his dad did just tell me that they shared a spicy pepperami on the way home from school 🙈

Just can’t help wondering why he hasn’t been uncomfortable or complaining at all.

As I said in my experience the initial cut was the sore one but really not much after that. I found that with both my boys and they really don’t have high pain thresholds! I’m sure he’s fine but obviously check in with your doctor just for your own piece of mind. If it was anything other than a fissure he’d have more symptoms x

@ICSH1 I hope so. Just so surprised that he didn’t even flinch at the time. Or on wiping. But like you said I guess he had just come from a bath. Sorry for going on. I’m spiralling a little now 🙈

what was treatment moving forward if it was a fissure? I’ll be paranoid about infections then, did it bleed every poo?

The cut is internal so wiping won’t aggravate. There was no treatment for any of us, it’s super common and heal just fine (I think some people are given a cream). The focus more is keeping poo soft so he doesn’t keep hurting himself and baths to keep things clean. If it was something more serious there’d be a lot more going on (tummy issues, general unwell feeling) so from what you’ve said I can’t see you’ve got much to worry about and it’s something I’ve seen a good few times in myself and my kids. It’s SO common. Do check in with your doctor as they’ll be able to reassure you and do any necessary checks x

@ICSH1 thank you for this. How would they diagnose? Is it symptom based?

Yes partly and if there’s a cut they will very likely be able to see it x

Belt and braces they might take a stool sample x

Worth sending the doc a message/photo but I think these things are relatively common and for a one off I def wouldn’t panic. I’ve had it and been told by the doc to be more worried if the actual poo is bloody. Sounds like a small tear or some sort

It'll be a scratch from either hard poo or some roughage.

Won't be a problem unless it keeps occurring- which can lead to some minor complications.

Red blood in poo is generally no cause of concern.

Black blood is the bad stuff because that indicates an internal bleed.

Update. So been to the doctors. She said there’s no obvious tears. But only looked from the outside obviously. We have to give two stool samples. Now she’s said there’s no obvious tear I’m a bag of nerves. He hasn’t passed a stool since but is happy in himself. I get so anxious.

Some of them are really high up, there’s only so much they can see by eye. The stool samples will tell you everything but I’m sure it’s fine. Generally well in themselves is a hugely positive sign x

@ICSH1 sorry to keep on but did you have to give stool samples for your boys?

I didn’t, the message for us was if it happens again we will.

@ICSH1 so could they physically see a tear? Or just diagnosed based on symptoms?