Bloody Diapers and Worried Parents

Picture this: A new parent is changing the diaper of their one-month-old infant when they notice streaks of blood. That’s when panic sets in, followed by frantic calls to the pediatrician’s office. But is this always a cause for alarm? In this episode, our gastroenterologists are on the case. We’re talking about allergic proctitis in infants. They will help you recognize and manage this common newborn issue so you can support families.

Joining us for this episode is Mason Nistel, MD. He specializes in gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is an Assistant Professor of pediatric GI, hepatology and nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  

Some highlights from this episode include: 

• How a typical case of allergic proctitis presents 
• Key differences between problematic blood and ‘normal’ blood in the stool 
• The importance of tapping into empathy as this can be a scary experience for parents 
• Additional considerations for primary care providers when evaluating blood in stool  

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.