2 year old/ bloody stool and blood clotting

[gnevil]

My 2 year old has blood in his stool, dark not bright red, and when I took him to the ER, they said acute gastroenteritis. Basically, acid reflux or stomach ulcers. They didnt do any radiology tests on him, just blood work and a stool sample. We have to wait at least 48 hours to get the stool sample results to find out if it could be a bacterial infection. His blood tests showed low platelet levels but his blood was clotting very fast while they were trying to draw blood for testing and his IV blew out because of a blood clot even though here had fluids going. Im worried that the blood clotting might be a sign of something very serious along with the bloody stools and upset that no radiology testing was done. Anything I should do from here to help?? Im thinking a GI specialist and maybe a blood specialist.

[gnevil]

Thanks for answering my post. I took him to his PCP and they are going to refer him to a blood specialist and GI specialist like I expected. Until then, he was put on a bland diet to decrease acidic foods.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Though it would be difficult to comment on the blood clotting without knowing the lab test values; blood in stools, also known as melaena and indicates the presence of blood (oxidized haemoglobin) from an upper GI bleed. Causes could be infections, inflammation, gastric/ GI ulcers, oesophageal varices, GI growths/ polyps, a-v malformations, varices, diverticulosis, fistulas, fissures, AV malformation, GI ischaemia and necrosis, bleeding disorders etc. Without further evaluation it would be difficult to differentiate between the causes. It would be best to get this evaluated a gastroenterologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!