BLEEDING

COMMON CAUSES:

Cuts
See Cuts 

Nosebleeds
See Nose-Related Problems

Vomiting Of Blood (Haematemesis)
This could be due to severe bouts of vomiting without any bleeding disorder. It can also be due to drugs like aspirin and certain other pain-relieving drugs, especially if these are taken on an empty stomach. Liver disease and portal hypertension can give rise to dilated blood vessels in the oesophagus and stomach which can bleed.


Blood In Stools
This can be due to a fissure caused by hard motions in a child with constipation. In such a case, the hard stools are streaked with fresh blood. A rectal polyp is another cause for passage of fresh blood in the stools. The typical history is that of a child who passes drops of fresh blood after having passed a motion.


Spitting Of Blood Or Haemoptysis 
This could be due to certain diseases in the lungs. Blood trickling from the back of the nose and brought out from the mouth can also be mistaken for haemoptysis.

MANAGEMENT: For cuts and bleeding from the nose, see sections on Cuts and Nose-Related Problems respectively.

Take your child to a doctor or hospital immediately in these situations:

• If your child is bleeding persistently or profusely.
• If the child is bleeding and has unexplained fever, looks severely anaemic, has jaundice, complains of persistent headache or has disturbed consciousness. Such a child could have serious diseases like leukaemia, severe liver disease, meningitis or bleeding inside the skull (intracranial bleed).
• If there is a history of bleeding in him or other members of the family, or bleeding following minor injuries, or there is spontaneous bleeding from any site without any provocative factors. Such a child may have a hereditary condition called haemophilia. This needs to be fully investigated and managed properly under expert advice.

11 February, 2013