Question
What are the causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in newborns?
Answer
Gastrointestinal bleeding in newborns can occur at any age and is characterized by vomiting blood, bloody stools, or both. The causes of gastrointestinal bleeding are complex, involving not only diseases of the digestive tract itself but also possibly regional manifestations of systemic diseases. The bleeding can occur in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract. Medications that lower portal vein pressure can reduce blood flow to the bleeding site, thus creating good conditions for clotting and stopping the bleeding.