What is the difference between vomiting blood and blood in the stool? Causes of vomiting blood

Vomiting blood and blood in the stool are common and important symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding. Generally speaking, gastrointestinal bleeding above the levator duodenalis (also known as the Treitz ligament) is called upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which is mainly characterized by vomiting blood (hematemesis); while lower gastrointestinal bleeding is mainly characterized by hematochezia.

Causes of vomiting blood

1. False hematemesis and blood in the stool occur in the following situations:

(1) Swallowing maternal blood: During childbirth, the baby swallows the dirty blood from the mother's birth canal or inhales breast milk and bleeds from the head. The Apt test can be performed to distinguish the maternal blood from the newborn's own blood.

(2) Oral and nasal injury and bleeding that is swallowed into the digestive tract.

2. Neonatal hemorrhagic disease Neonatal hemorrhagic disease is caused by vitamin K deficiency. Vomiting blood and bloody stools usually occur 2 to 3 days after birth. In severe cases, bleeding in other parts of the body may occur. Late-onset vitamin K deficiency may also cause vomiting blood and bloody stools.

3. Other less common systemic hemorrhagic diseases such as DIC, neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura and various congenital coagulation factor deficiencies.

4. Digestive tract diseases:

Vomiting blood and blood in the stool

(1) Reflux esophagitis: The clinical manifestations are persistent vomiting, which may be accompanied by hematemesis or bloody stools. Newborns with hematemesis and bloody stools are often accompanied by malnutrition and growth retardation.

(2) Stress ulcers: Hypoxia, intracranial hypertension, and severe infection can cause stress ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.

(3) Acute gastroenteritis: Acute gastrointestinal inflammation caused by most pathogens, in addition to symptoms such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, severe cases may also cause blood in the stool and vomiting.

(4) Intestinal obstruction: Clinical manifestations include vomiting, abdominal distension, hematemesis or bloody stool.