Is Bright Red Blood In Stool Due To Braces Worn For Idiopathic Scoliosis By A 4-year-old?
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Bright red blood that is actually mixed in to the stool means there is bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract, and usually if it is red, from somewhere lower than the stomach because the acid in the stomach turns blood that is from the esophagus or stomach to a black tarry color (although if there is a lot of blood, it can still be from the stomach).
In a young child, usually blood in the stool is actually on the outside of the stool from a small rectal tear from a hard bowel movement. Usually there is some irritation or discomfort when wiping if this happened. However, I don't know all of your daughter's health issues so I can't say for sure, but it would be unlikely to be from the brace.
If she didn't have a hard/large bowel movement and if the blood was in the stool, rather than on the outside of the stool and the toilet paper, then she should be seen by her doctor or the A and E.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician