Facts about blood in your stool

Aug 20, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

By Dr Zulfikar Bux

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Blood in the stool can be frightening, whether you discover it while wiping after a bowel movement or from a test ordered by your health care provider. While blood in stool can signal a serious problem, it doesn’t always. Because of its sensitivity, some persons keep their bloody stool a secret. It is estimated that up to 10% of adults bleed in their stool.
Today we will shed some light on bloody stool and hopefully make it easier to talk about it.

WHAT ARE BLOODY STOOLS?

“Stools” is another word for “bowel movements.” If you have bloody stools, you might see bright red blood:

On the toilet paper after wiping
In the toilet after you go to the bathroom
On the surface of or mixed in with your bowel movements

In some cases bloody stools look like black tar rather than like they have blood on them. Stools that look like tar are usually caused by bleeding high up in the digestive system such as the stomach.

WHAT CAUSES BLOODY STOOLS?

The two most common causes are not usually serious:

Hemorrhoids – These are swollen blood vessels in the anus. Hemorrhoids can itch or hurt especially when you strain to stool.
Anal fissures – These are tears in the skin on the anus.

Below are other causes of bloody stools that may indicate badness:

Peptic Ulcer- this is irritation and bruising in the stomach or its surroundings.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease- this is where your immune system malfunctions and causes your gut to bleed.
Diverticulosis- are abnormal pouches that form in the colon.
Cancer- Cancer anywhere in your gut can cause irritation and bleeding.
Infections – especially bacterial infections that causes bloody diarrhoea.

WHAT OTHER SYMPTOMS SHOULD YOU WATCH FOR?

These symptoms can show what is causing your problem and may indicate badness:

Feelings of ripping or burning during bowel movements
Fever, weight loss, and heavy sweating at night
Diarrhea
Feeling like you need to have a bowel movement, but not being able to go
Belly pain
Bowel movements that look black or dark red
Changes in how often or how hard or soft your bowel movements are
Bleeding that goes on for a long time or that comes back again and again

WHAT TEST CAN BE DONE FOR MY BLOODY STOOL?

Your doctor will decide which tests you should have based on your age, other symptoms, and individual situation.

Here are the most common tests doctors use to find the cause of bloody stools:

Rectal exam – Your doctor will look at the outside of your anus. He or she will also use a finger to feel inside the opening.
Anoscopy – In his or her office, your doctor will put a small tube into your anus. The tube goes a few inches into the rectum (the lower part of the large intestine). It has a light on it so the doctor can see inside.
Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy – For these tests, the doctor puts a thin tube into your anus. Then, he or she advances the tube into your large intestine. The large intestine is also called the colon. The tube has a camera attached to it, so the doctor can look inside your intestines.

HOW ARE BLOODY STOOLS TREATED?

Treatment depends on what is causing your bloody stools. You might not need treatment. If you do, treatments might include:

Fibre supplements and medicines to keep your bowel movements soft
Sitting in warm water a few times a day for about 15 minutes
Creams and medicines that go on or inside your anus. These help with pain, itching, and swelling.
More serious medicines for diseases of the digestive system

CAN BLOODY STOOLS BE PREVENTED?

If you have hemorrhoids, you can reduce the chances of getting bloody stools again by drinking lots of water and eating lots of fibre. Fibre is common in fruits, vegetables, and breakfast cereal. You might also need medicines to prevent constipation (trouble having bowel movements).

WHAT IF MY CHILD GETS BLOODY STOOLS?

In children and babies, bloody stools can be a symptom of:

Tears in the anus (anal fissures) from large or hard bowel movements
A condition that makes it hard to digest milk or soy
Infection by a virus or bacteria, or food poisoning
Diseases that affect the digestive system
Foods and medicines that look like blood but aren’t

If you notice blood in your child’s diaper or bowel movements, take him or her to see the doctor. You should not be afraid to get your bloody stool checked out. The earlier your doctor figures out the cause, the better the chances of you overcoming your “bloody situation”.

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