Intestines

There are several reasons a child could have slight bleeding from the rectum. Just like in adults, bleeding from the rectum can occur when:

• Some children "hold it" rather than going to the bathroom. This can lead to constipation. Read below for how this can cause bleeding.
• Constipation can irritate the mucosal lining of rectum, which is inside the body. Hard stool can create very small tears in the lining, which bleed. The bleeding would be in very small amounts, and typically bright red, changing to brown as the bleeding stops and the tear heals.
• "Straining" to push out hard fecal matter. Any forceful straining against hard bowel movement can push against and tear the rectal lining. The biggest causes of constipation are: not enough fluids; medications that cause drying of mucous membranes or cause constipation; decreased activity or exercise; the kinds of foods eaten; and not enough fiber.
• Hemorrhoids can develop in children, not just external but internal ones. A doctor can determine if a child has hemorroids.
• Anal sexual abuse can cause bleeding also. Rather than questioning a child or doing an "examination" yourself, consult a doctor.

Doctors will probably exam, rule out causes, and make recommendations that could include: increasing fluids; change of medications that cause drying of mucous membranes or cause constipation to a different med; increased activity or exercise; a food diary for the kinds of foods eaten; limiting constipation causing foods; inclusion of fiber in the diet; and in some cases, a doctor might order a short term laxative for 7 to 10 days. Note: Long term laxatives are not good for the intestines. Follow your doctor's instructions to help your child develop good bowel habits.

NOTE! Any large amount of blood, bleeding that doesn't stop on its own (changing to darker color), or bleeding with pain needs an immediate visit to the doctor or ER. Call your doctor for his recommendations.)

In people without medical problems, the main intervention is to increase the intake of fluids (preferably water) and dietary fiber. The latter may be achieved by consuming more vegetables and fruit and whole meal bread, and by adding linseeds to one's diet. The routine non-medical use of laxatives is to be discouraged as this may result in bowel action becoming dependent upon their use. Enemas can be used to provide a form of mechanical stimulation. Laxatives may be necessary in people in whom dietary intervention is not effective or is inappropriate. Stimulant laxatives (e.g. senna) are generally avoided, as they may worsen crampy sensations commonly experienced in constipation. In various conditions (such as the use of codeine or morphine), combinations of hydrating (e.g. lactulose or glycols), bulk-forming (e.g. psyllium) and stimulant agents may be necessary. Many of the products are widely available over-the-counter. Enemas and clysters are a remedy occasionally used for hospitalized patients in whom the constipation has proven to be severe, dangerous in other ways, or resistant to laxatives. Sorbitol, glycerin and arachis oil suppositories can be used. Severe cases may require phosphate solutions introduced as enemas. Constipation that resists all the above measures requires physical intervention. Manual disimpaction (the physical removal of impacted stool) is done by patients who have lost control of their bowels secondary to spinal injuries. Manual disimpaction is also used by physicians and nurses to relieve rectal impactions. Finally, manual disimpaction can occasionally be done under sedation or a general anesthetic-this avoids pain and loosens the anal sphincter. In alternative and traditional medicine, colonic irrigation, enemas, exercise, diet and herbs are used to treat constipation. Constipation is usually easier to prevent than to treat. The relief of constipation with osmotic agents, i.e. lactulose, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or magnesium salts, should immediately be followed with prevention using increased fiber (fruits and vegetables) and a nightly decreasing dose of osmotic laxative. With continuing narcotic use, for instance, nightly doses of osmotic agents can be given indefinitely (without harm) to cause a daily bowel movement. Recent controlled studies have questioned the role of physical exercise in the prevention and management of chronic constipation, while exercise is often recommended by published materials on the subject. [1]

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constipation

Go see a doctor. You are probably constipated so drink some water.
See What_can_you_do_to_relieve_constipation

Umbilical hernia repair is surgery to repair an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia is a sac formed from the inner lining of your belly (abdominal cavity) that pushes through a hole in the abdominal wall at the belly button.

You will probably receive general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. If your hernia is small, you may receive spinal or epidural block anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.

Your surgeon will make a surgical cut under your belly button.

• Your surgeon will find your hernia and separate it from the tissues around it. Then your surgeon will either push it back inside your abdomen or remove it.
• Strong stitches will be used to repair the hole or weak spot caused by the umbilical hernia.
• Your surgeon may also lay a piece of mesh over the weak area (usually not in children).

Children:

Umbilical hernias are fairly common. A hernia at birth will push the belly button out. It shows more when a baby cries because the pressure from crying makes it bulge out more.

In infants, the defect is not usually treated with surgery. Most of the time, the umbilical hernia shrinks and closes on its own by the time a child is 3 or 4 years old.

Umbilical hernia repair may be needed in children for these reasons:

• The hernia is painful and stuck in the bulging position.
• Blood supply is affected.
• The hernia has not closed by age 3 or 4.
• The defect is very large or unacceptable to parents because of how it makes their child look. Even in these cases, the doctor may suggest waiting until your child is 3 or 4 to see if the hernia closes on its own.

Adults:

Umbilical hernias are fairly common in adults. They are seen more in overweight people and in women, especially after pregnancy. They tend to get bigger over time.

Smaller hernias with no symptoms sometimes can be watched. Surgery may pose greater risks for patients with serious medical problems.

Without surgery, there is a risk that some fat or part of the intestine will get stuck (incarcerated) in the hernia and become impossible to push back in. This is usually painful. If the blood supply to this area is cut off (strangulation), urgent surgery is needed. You may experience nausea or vomiting, and the bulging area may turn blue or a darker color.

Surgery will usually be used for hernias that are getting larger or are painful. Surgery secures the weakened abdominal wall tissue (fascia) and closes any holes.

Get medical care right away if you have a hernia that does not get smaller when you are lying down or that you cannot push back in.

The risks of surgery for umbilical hernia are usually very low, unless the patient also has other serious medical problems.

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems, such as pneumonia
• Heart problems

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

A specific risk of umbilical hernia surgery is injury to the bowel (large intestine). This is rare.

Your surgeon or anesthesia doctor will see you and give you instructions for you or your child.

An anesthesiologist will discuss your (or your child's) medical history to determine the right amount and type of anesthesia to use. You or your child may be asked to stop eating and drinking 6 hours before surgery. Make sure you tell your doctor or nurse about any medications, allergies, or history of bleeding problems.

Several days before surgery, you may be asked to stop taking aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, or Aleve; other blood thinning medications; and certain vitamins and supplements.

Most umbilical hernia repairs are done on an outpatient basis, which means that you will likely go home on the same day. Some repairs may require a short hospital stay if the hernia is very large.

After surgery, your doctor and nurse will monitor your vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, and breathing). You will stay in the recovery area until you are stable. Your doctor will prescribe pain medicine if you need it.

Your doctor or nurse will show you how to care for your or your child's incision at home. You or your child should be able to do all of your normal activities in 2 - 4 weeks.

There is always a chance that the hernia can come back. However, for healthy patients, the risk of it coming back is very low.

Warner BW. Pediatric surgery. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 71.