|
Thank you so much for this reply Andrea - you
have given me some great info that I am passing to my daughter this evening. It
is so hard to be objective when you are so far away and it is one of your own. I
do appreciate your time in providing a response.
Sadie
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2006 2:45
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Melena
stools?
Its not normal for sure and she needs to go see a different
paediatrician or maybe a gastroenterologist. The history of reflux would
suggest that he has bleeding in his oesophagus although I would think that it
would be seen in hiis possits unless he is one of the babies with non seen
reflux as in he doesnt possit but it just burns away at his oesophaus. For
this some zantac or losec will usually be what he needs. This would account
for the balck stools. If this is so he is probably over feeding because when
he drinks the milk soothes his epigastric pain but he is consuming way more
than he needs for nutritional reasons hence the large weight gain. I
think the referral to a children's hospital is the way to go. the fact that he
is so big might in fact be a symptom of whatever is going on but his GI tract
needs reviewing. Black stools mean the bleeding is high enough in the GI
tract to be digested, fresh blood is usually from the lower GI tract and could
be as a result of constipation ( from the over feeding and tarry stools). You
also need to be sure that the blackness is blood and not as a result of
something he is eating so the stools need to be tested for occult
blood. 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. The other common cause of GI trauma in children is ingestion of a
foreign object that although not occluding the GI tract is causing trauma.
This can usually be detected by a plain abdo x ray. All stuff that is easy to
investigate but she needs to keep pushing.
Andrea Q
Just wondered if I could pick everyone's
brains about my 8 month old grandson who lives in the
UK.
He has had reflux practically from birth,
and is now producing 'black' stools which my daughter says has blood in it
(obviously I knew that from the black stools but didn't want to worry her).
He is formula fed and has been since birth, however the doctors do not seem
worried despite my daughter taking him to see different doctors on many
occasions. She is now waiting for a referral to the tertiary hospital to see
a specialist - am I worrying un-necessarily? He is putting on lots of
weight, and at 8 months old he is in clothes sized up to 18
months. I'm afraid that as a midwife, I only really know about
newborns!
Cheers,
Sadie
|
