Morning stool with blood. Blood in the stool (stool), bleeding from the anus (rectum, anus)

Bloody stool occurs in children, adults and the elderly. For all age categories, the reasons remain the same with varying degrees of probability. In childhood, anal fissures are common, in adult men and women - hemorrhoids, and in older people - chronic constipation.

To determine the exact cause, you must consult a doctor. A specialist based on the nature of stool and the color of blood will make a preliminary diagnosis, which will be confirmed with the help of an additional examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

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Causes of bleeding during bowel movements

During bowel movements, blood may come out of the anus along with the stool. In adult men and women, such a pathology is usually caused by damage to the mucous membrane of the colon and/or rectum.

Rectal bleeding is a clear deviation from the physiological norm and is not typical for a healthy body. Regardless of the presence or absence of pain when blood appears during bowel movements, a person is advised to seek help from a qualified specialist. Timely diagnosis will allow us to establish the true causes of the pathology and select effective treatment.

Haemorrhoids

The most common cause of bloody stool in women and men is hemorrhoids. For this reason, the blood will not be mixed with the feces and will have a scarlet color. Patients with hemorrhoids often experience chronic constipation.

With hemorrhoids, blood can appear both during stool and after bowel movements. In the latter case, the bleeding that opens will be drip.

Bloody discharge from the anus appears after hard and bulky stools. In such cases, blood clots may remain in the stool, as with anal fissures. Sometimes they are caused by severe physical exertion.

More indicative symptoms of hemorrhoids are bluish-red formations that prolapse from the rectum. To clarify the diagnosis, hemorrhoids are examined.

Exacerbation of hemorrhoids during gestation is far from uncommon. In pregnant women, hemorrhoids bleed due to frequent constipation. Hemorrhoidal bleeding may continue after childbirth.

Colitis

With this disease, inflammation develops in the gastrointestinal tract, the localization of which becomes the mucous membrane of the colon.

Colitis can be caused by the following infections:

typhoid fever;
salmonellosis;
dysentery;
enterovirus and rotavirus infections;
hemorrhagic fevers;
helminthic infestations - amoebiasis, schistosis.

Pathogens can also be syphilis, herpes, granuloma venereum, and rectal gonorrhea.

Anal fissure

With an anal fissure, blood discharge from the rectum is observed in small portions. Most often, blood appears after hard stools. In this case, pain and burning are felt in the anal area.

The problem is typical for people suffering from frequent constipation. Particularly for older patients. In addition, due to irritation of the rectal area with personal hygiene products and soap, in combination with hard stool, micro-tears of the mucous membrane and skin occur. For this reason, going to the toilet for a patient is accompanied by cutting pain. Fear of bowel movements can lead to psychological constipation.

Two symptoms are typical for anal fissure:

blood, visible on feces, falling onto the surface of feces from micro-tears;
pain when wounds are irritated.

The final diagnosis is made after a visual examination of the anus and detection of an area with a crack at the junction of the skin and the mucous membrane of the rectum.

Constipation

The occurrence of bloody stools also occurs with constipation. The mucous surface of the rectum has many small blood vessels, which can seriously injure dense feces.

To stabilize the condition and eliminate the problem, the patient may be advised to follow a diet. Meals should include foods containing a high percentage of fiber, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits.

Polyps

Polyps are benign neoplasms that grow on the rectal mucosa on legs or are located on a broad base. The degree of bleeding caused by polypous formations is influenced by their location. Both copious and minor bleeding is possible.

Bleeding caused by polyps begins in the later stages of their formation. Initially, a person is bothered by constipation or diarrhea caused by impaired intestinal motility.

Polyps are dangerous because they can develop into cancer. Bleeding develops as a result of trauma to their surface. Its intensity depends on the size of the formation. Large polyps are damaged much more easily.

Proctitis

Proctitis is typically characterized by inflammation of the rectum, accompanied by bleeding during stool. Together with blood, mucus is detected in the stool.

To diagnose the pathology, the patient is prescribed various tests. And only after this, drug therapy adequate to the condition is selected.

Diverticulosis

With diverticulosis, pockets and protrusions form on the mucous surface of the rectum. When defecating, pathological formations are injured, due to which feces are mixed with blood.

Diverticulosis can be recognized by the following symptoms:

pain in the lower abdomen;
bleeding during stool;
in rare cases, fever.

To prevent bleeding, it is necessary to stop the formation of new diverticula. Treatment will depend on the severity and extent of the disease. Medications are used for therapy. If there is no effect, surgical intervention is practiced, involving removal of the affected diverticula.

In addition to the reasons described above, anal bleeding is caused by:

varicose veins of the digestive tract;
HIV infection;
rectal cancer.

When receiving treatment with antibiotics and drugs containing potassium, the stool may turn scarlet. This is an acceptable side effect that goes away after stopping the medication.

Determining the cause by the color of the blood

When bleeding from the anus occurs, you need to pay attention to the color of the discharge. Based on the nature and color of the blood, the doctor excludes some causes and narrows the range of diagnoses:

Causes of blood in the stool in children

The occurrence of blood in the stool in adolescents and children is due to the same reasons as in adult patients. The most common cause of blood on the surface of feces in children under 3 years of age is anal fissures caused by constipation. In children, the mucous membrane and skin are more easily injured under the influence of unstable stool.

If traces of brightly colored blood are detected on the surface of feces after a child has defecated, we can conclude that he has anal fissures. Don't be alarmed as this is a common occurrence. With the help of proper nutrition, you can stabilize the stool within a few days and eliminate unpleasant sensations for the baby.

If blood appears in the stool in a child under 1 year of age, the reason lies in an allergic reaction to certain foods. This occurs due to intestinal inflammation formed under the influence of an allergen. The vessels become injured and begin to bleed. The child should definitely be shown to a specialist.

One of the reasons for the appearance of blood in the stool is the baby's lactose intolerance (lactose deficiency). Additional symptoms in this case include:

frequent constipation;
the appearance of a rash on the skin;
development of iron deficiency anemia - a decrease in hemoglobin levels due to lack of iron.

Another reason is intestinal volvulus. Occurs in children on artificial nutrition. The pathology is accompanied by bloody, jelly-like discharge, general anxiety, and loss of appetite. In this situation, you need to seek help from a doctor.

General diagnostics

The color and nature of the stool does not allow us to determine the exact cause of bloody discharge from the anus. To establish a diagnosis, the patient is prescribed laboratory and instrumental studies:

1. Analysis of feces. Allows you to detect even minor bleeding. This procedure is prescribed by a doctor if there is a suspicion of a disease accompanied by rectal bleeding. The analysis will be recommended even if the patient himself did not notice the blood.
2. Irrigoscopy. A special substance is injected into the intestines, which allows you to get a clear picture on x-ray.
3. Gastroduodenoscopy. To examine the patient, an endoscope is used to assess the condition of the rectal mucosa and other digestive organs. If ulcerative formations are detected, cauterization can be performed.
4. Rectoscopy. Used to examine the lower gastrointestinal tract. Using the technique, hemorrhoids, anal fissures and various types of neoplasms in the rectum are diagnosed.
5. Colonoscopy. A more advanced rectoscopy model that allows you to detect changes and neoplasms in the colon.

Conclusion

Discharge of blood from the anus is caused by various reasons. Diagnosis of the disease that causes bloody stools is carried out thanks to the nature of the stool, the color of the blood and additional examinations of the gastrointestinal tract.

If pathological symptoms appear, you should consult a qualified specialist. It is worth doing this even if after some time the bleeding goes away on its own. Its disappearance is not an indicator of self-healing. Only a physician will be able to determine the exact cause of the pathology and eliminate the likelihood of serious illnesses. Advice and prescriptions from a proctologist will help avoid serious consequences.

Blood during bowel movements is a multivariate sign of many diseases. There is no reason to worry if such a deviation from the norm was a one-time occurrence. If there is a tendency for repetitions and development, it is better to consult a doctor to find out what this is a sign of: a serious systemic pathology or a temporary digestive disorder. Let's consider the occurrence of the symptom, its varieties, and detection methods.

Causes of blood in stool

The etiology of the unpleasant condition depends on the nature of the bleeding and the location of its source. The further it is from the anus, the darker and thicker the bloody discharge will be. The reasons for changes in the color and consistency of biological fluid are associated with its partial coagulation, which occurs as it moves through the digestive canal. The feces are foul-smelling and look like tar.

Bright scarlet drops on top of the stool or smeared on toilet paper are observed if hemorrhoids or the anal mucosa are damaged. This is the most harmless form of the symptom in question.

The following signs indicate a dangerous disease:

Blood is dissolved in the stool.
It is released in clots or streams during defecation.
The stool contains pus and/or mucus.

Circumstances aggravating the general condition include:

Vomit.
Fever.
Pain during bowel movements.

Tarry stool is a sign of a number of pathologies, including:

Haemorrhoids.
Proctitis.
Enterovirus infection.
Helminthiases.
Salmonellosis.
Dysentery.
Diverticulosis.

Bloody stool may appear as a result of radiotherapy sessions, which negatively affects the vessels of the digestive canal. The symptom is possible in an adult man whose prostate gland has been irradiated. Endometriosis is indicated by blood released from the rectum during menstruation.

The mucous membrane of the digestive canal can be injured due to alcohol abuse, prolonged use of antibacterial agents that disrupt the balance of microflora in the intestines. As a result, an allergy develops that provokes the release of blood during bowel movements. A similar symptom is observed during chemotherapy performed using cytostatics.

When you shouldn't worry

False blood in the stool appears after eating beets, blueberries, tomatoes, and also as a result of taking certain medications. Drinks or desserts containing dyes can also be to blame.

Light bleeding can be identified by anemia. The situation with hemoglobin deficiency is easily correctable. Based on the test results, the doctor prescribes complex iron-containing preparations that quickly restore the level of the most important microelement in red blood cells.

When self-medication is dangerous

A serious condition is indicated by constant scarlet discharge. The doctor will make an accurate diagnosis based on the results of laboratory and instrumental diagnostics.

Urgent hospitalization will be required if, along with this, the patient has:

Nausea, vomiting with blood.
Hematomas that occur without tissue injury.
Weakness, confusion.
Pain in the abdominal area.
Fever.

In such cases, attempts to cope with the problem on your own are unacceptable. The desire to wait for a doctor’s consultation at the clinic also poses a threat to the patient’s life.

After relief of dangerous symptoms, an examination is prescribed to identify the cause of the condition. The further treatment regimen will be determined by a specialist of the appropriate profile.

If black stool appears, this may be a consequence of non-dangerous bleeding, which is detected during laboratory diagnostics of stool. The reason is the localization of the source of the lesion in the upper parts of the digestive canal. Self-diagnosis in such situations threatens the patient’s health.

This applies not only to systemic infections and malignant processes. Advanced cases of hemorrhoids and fissures in the anus also lead to conditions requiring urgent intervention and surgical treatment.

Stool with blood without a sharp deterioration in health is a reason to contact a proctologist. Using palpation, he examines the rectum in detail and, if necessary, prescribes endoscopy of the large intestine.

The doctor of first choice may also be a general practitioner. Based on the preliminary diagnosis, an infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist and other highly specialized doctors are involved in the diagnosis.

Infectious diseases

Blood in the stool is a symptom of pathologies in the lower digestive canal. Its inflammation (proctitis) can be acute or chronic. Accompanied by pain in the perineum and abdomen, malaise, frequent urge to defecate, and fever.

The causes of scarlet blood not mixed with stool are as follows:

Anal fissures accompanied by profuse, painful discharge. After heavy physical activity, their traces can be found on underwear. The treatment uses ointments, compresses, rectal suppositories with anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects.
Polyps. To avoid malignancy of growths, their timely surgical removal is practiced.
Tumors (benign or malignant).
Chronic form of hemorrhoids.

Additional factors associated with rectal bleeding include:

Pregnancy.
Frequent constipation.
Hard physical labor.
Stress.

Blood on toilet paper appears during anal sex and poor personal hygiene.

Colon diseases

Bleeding from the anus is often a sign of colitis. Inflammation is accompanied by:

Fetid odor of feces.
Pain of a wandering nature.
Flatulence and problems with stool.

The cause may be a violation of the usefulness of the intestinal microflora (dysbacteriosis). In this case, the clinical picture is complemented by:

Nausea.
Flatulence.
Constipation.
Diarrhea.
Bad breath.

Bleeding from the anus is characteristic of colon cancer, and the color of the inclusions can vary: from bright scarlet to black tarry, sometimes with clots. Constant symptoms of cancer of the digestive canal include:

Changes affecting the shape, consistency, thickness of stool.
Bloating.
Weakness and weight loss.
Iron-deficiency anemia.
Feeling of not emptying the bowels.

With such symptoms, you need to urgently consult a doctor to refute the suspicion of cancer or begin appropriate antitumor therapy. At an early stage of the disease, the prognosis is favorable.

Associated with age-related changes in the body is angiodysplasia, a disease in which the vessels on the surface of the intestine dilate and become too fragile. In such cases, symptomatic treatment is prescribed.

Diverticulosis is characterized by bulges that form on weak intestinal walls. More common in patients over 40 years of age. They do not cause any discomfort until they break through. Violation of the integrity of the sacs is accompanied by bloody discharge from the anus and severe pain.

Their color depends on the location of the source of bleeding. The condition is dangerous and requires surgical intervention, especially if giant protrusions are detected. Small pouches can be eliminated with medication or diet. Complex therapy helps improve the patient's condition.

Blood streaks in stool

Regardless of the consistency of the stool, red “threads” in its composition indicate inflammation in the digestive canal. Provocateurs of the phenomenon can be:

The symptom cannot be ignored, especially if it is accompanied by loss of appetite, sudden weight loss, and nagging pain in the abdominal area. After all, streaks of blood can also be a manifestation of Crohn's disease, a tumor process, bleeding polyps, and diverticulitis. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the chances of a full recovery increase.

Tests for occult blood in stool

A painless, safe immunochemical method that detects hemoglobin when red blood cells are not visually detected under a microscope. A week before the test, in consultation with the attending physician, stop taking laxatives, as well as medications containing bismuth and iron. 3 days before the procedure you should not eat apples, liver or meat. The session can be carried out only 2 days after radiography of the digestive canal. Enema is prohibited the day before.

The stool should not contain urine or menstrual fluid. The biomaterial is collected during spontaneous bowel movements and delivered to the laboratory on the same day.

If the test result is positive, the patient is examined further until the cause of the condition is identified. If negative, against the background of non-disappearing symptoms, occult blood is determined again. If necessary, other more informative methods of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics are prescribed.

Doctor's report

Annual medical examinations, moderate physical activity, proper balanced nutrition, and a responsible attitude towards one’s health are the most important conditions for avoiding pathological conditions accompanied by blood in the stool. Eliminating the symptom itself will give nothing and is practically impossible until the source of the bleeding is identified. Highly qualified professional assistance at the first signs is the key to a favorable prognosis and successful treatment.

– the main sign of bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract. The cause of their occurrence, in most cases, is the anorectal area. In rare cases, such bleeding occurs when the upper gastrointestinal tract is affected, vascular pathology, or blood diseases.

The most common causes of anal bleeding include:

haemorrhoids;
anal fissure;
benign neoplasms of the large intestine (polyps);
colorectal cancer;
diverticular disease;
nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
Crohn's disease;
intestinal infections (dysentery, amoebiasis);
traumatic damage to the anus and rectum (foreign bodies, anal sex);
(with massive bleeding);
extragenital endometriosis;
side effects of certain medications.

Characteristics of bleeding

Already by the appearance of the blood, its color, the characteristics of the content in the feces, and the time of excretion, one can presumably determine the level of intestinal damage.

The less the blood is changed and the less it is mixed with feces, the lower the source of bleeding is located.

Most common reasons

Haemorrhoids

About 10% of people in the middle age group suffer from hemorrhoids; men are affected 4 times more often.

Its development is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle, heavy physical labor, and pregnancy.

At the beginning of the disease, there is discomfort and a sensation of a foreign body in the anus. Recurrent rectal bleeding then appears. They occur during defecation or immediately after it. The blood has a bright red color; it does not mix with the feces, but covers it on top. Traces of blood may be found on toilet paper and underwear. The volume of blood released varies from a few drops to a puddle. Frequent intense bleeding leads to the development of anemia.

When inflammation occurs, pain occurs during defecation and persists for some time after it.

Mucus discharge irritates the skin around the anus, causing an itchy sensation, and contributes to the development of eczema.

Anal fissure

It is a linear ulcer located in the lower part of the anal canal.

Its main symptoms are bleeding and pain that occurs during bowel movements. The pain is quite intense, burning, stabbing in nature, radiating to the perineum, sacrum, and rectum. It lasts from several minutes to several hours.

Bleeding is usually minor. In this case, the blood is on the surface of the stool in the form of stripes and does not mix with it. Sometimes blood comes out in drops at the end of a bowel movement, leaving marks on paper or underwear.

Polyposis of the colon

belong to benign neoplasms of epithelial nature. They can be single or multiple, localized in any part of the colon, and are prone to degeneration into.

The main complaints of patients with polyposis are:

discomfort;
abdominal pain that does not have a clear localization;
bowel dysfunction in the form of alternating constipation with diarrhea;
stool mixed with mucus and blood.

Bleeding with polyposis is not intense. The blood is dark, mixed with mucus and feces, however, the closer to the anus the polyp is located, the brighter the blood. Bleeding can also be hidden, and quickly leads to anemia in the patient.

Colorectal cancer

Tumors of the large intestine begin to manifest themselves only after 1.5-2 years from the moment of their occurrence. Bleeding is a delayed symptom and develops at the stage of tumor disintegration.

The first signs of rectosigmoid cancer are spastic constipation, the stool becomes ribbon-shaped, and later mucus and blood appear on its surface. Often with intestinal cancer, hemorrhoids develop, which are extremely difficult to treat. Pain is not typical for this location and appears only with the development of intestinal obstruction. The tumor may not be detected by palpation even in the late stages of the disease.

When a tumor affects the right parts of the colon, the first symptoms appear very late and are nonspecific. Signs of intoxication increase (fever, accelerated ESR), lack of appetite, rapid loss of body weight. Pathological impurities appear in the stool: mucus, blood (usually hidden), pus, and sometimes the stool takes on the appearance of “raspberry jelly.” Later, pain appears in the right half of the abdomen, and the tumor is often detected by palpation.

Rectal cancer is characterized by nagging, burning pain in the rectum, frequent urge to defecate, followed by the release of mucus and blood. Blood does not mix with feces, but unlike hemorrhoids, it is released at the beginning of defecation. Feces may include pus and tumor breakdown products.

In most cases, it affects the large intestine, mainly its left sections. The incidence of the disease increases with age, affecting more than 60% of the population after 70 years of age.

Uncomplicated colonic diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic. Inflammation of the diverticulum manifests itself:

Diverticulitis is complicated by bleeding in 3-5% of patients. It is often profuse and develops suddenly. Signs of acute blood loss increase (weakness, pale skin, dizziness, tachycardia), and little changed blood appears in the stool.

Nonspecific ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases with similar intestinal manifestations. They are characterized by an undulating course with periods of exacerbation and remission.

The main symptoms of the disease are:

bloody diarrhea;
abdominal pain;
fever during exacerbations.

With nonspecific ulcerative colitis, diarrhea with blood can be the only symptom of the disease for a long time. With Crohn's disease, bleeding occurs less frequently; depending on the level of damage, blood in the stool may be detected in the form of dark clots or bright red streaks.

In addition to intestinal damage, there are systemic symptoms (erythema nodosum, arthritis, skin and eye damage, sclerosing cholangitis, etc.)

Intestinal and other infections

Anal bleeding is sometimes a symptom of certain infectious diseases (dysentery, typhoid fever, amoebiasis, hemorrhagic fevers).

Infectious diseases are characterized by:

acute onset;
febrile fever;
weakness;
headache, muscle pain;
and other manifestations of intoxication: vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain.

In this case, abdominal pain always precedes bleeding. The blood is usually dark and mixed with stool and mucus.

Pseudomembranous colitis

One of the dangerous complications of antibiotic therapy. Most often it develops while taking sulfonamides, clindamycin, ampicillin, lincomycin, and cephalosporin drugs.

The disease manifests itself as cramping abdominal pain, intoxication syndrome, and severe diarrhea. The stool is copious, watery, and in severe forms it takes on the appearance of “rice water.” The stool contains pathological impurities - mucus, blood.

Diagnostics

. Already at the stage of preliminary examination of the perineum and anus, anal fissure and hemorrhoids can be diagnosed. Digital examination allows you to evaluate the mobility of the rectal wall and the condition of the lymph nodes.
And . Allows visual examination of the rectum and distal sigmoid colon. Using these methods, the presence of neoplasms of the mucous membrane, erosions, ulcers, cracks, and signs of inflammation is determined. These methods also allow for subsequent coagulation of the bleeding area.
. The most informative method that allows you to examine the large intestine along its entire length. Thanks to its high resolution, colonoscopy can detect pathological changes in the intestines at the earliest stages, perform multiple tissue biopsies, remove polyps, and coagulate a bleeding vessel.
. X-ray method for examining the large intestine. Using this method, it is impossible to determine the source of bleeding, but it allows one to obtain information about the underlying disease (diverticula, neoplasms) that likely caused the bleeding.

When do you need to see a doctor urgently?

Normally there should be no blood in the stool. Any, even minor, bleeding from the anus is a reason to consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

However, there are a number of situations when medical assistance must be provided immediately:

To undergo a routine examination regarding anal bleeding, you must first contact general practitioner or coloproctologist. Even if the diagnosis seems obvious and harmless (anal fissure, hemorrhoids), it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of the intestines to exclude a more serious pathology.

Bloody feces can appear in anyone, regardless of age. This is a rather alarming symptom, and when it appears, it is imperative to undergo a thorough examination and course of treatment.

Collapse

When bloody discharge appears in the stool, doctors talk about serious pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. These include disorders of the intestinal mucosa, a tumor formed in the duodenum, etc. This phenomenon cannot be ignored.

The sooner the cause of the problem is identified, the higher the patient’s chances of successful recovery.

Color is of no small importance in diagnosis: light red signals the presence of diarrhea, and black stool with blood is a clear sign of the development of internal pathologies.

Diseases that cause a dangerous symptom include:

People who care about their health often ask doctors: if there is blood in the stool, what could it be?

First of all, this is a symptom of pathology of any internal organs. Therefore, consultation with a doctor is mandatory.

In some cases, bleeding disappears quickly. This means that the disease does not manifest itself externally, but continues to develop.

Many parents face a problem. Most often, it is not a manifestation of a serious illness. There can be many reasons why stool changes color. For babies under one year old, this means eating bananas; for older children, it means drinking drinks that contain dyes, chocolate, beets, and antibiotics. But to rule out more serious causes, you should definitely visit a pediatrician.

Bleeding in children arising from the anus can be caused by the following reasons:

caused by constipation;
volvulus;
lactose deficiency;
food allergy.

If you find blood in your child's stool, you should go to the doctor. Only a qualified doctor can determine the cause of such discharge and select the optimal treatment regimen.

The reasons may vary and depend on the patient’s age, lifestyle and other factors. Elderly people are often susceptible to hemorrhoids, which are accompanied by bloody discharge present in the stool. Mostly they look like clots and indicate an advanced stage of internal hemorrhoids.

Many adults have bad habits, so they are faced with the problem of blood in the stool after drinking alcohol. This symptom indicates the presence of pathologies of the stomach and liver.

Bloody discharge may be a manifestation of polyps formed on the intestinal walls.

Another reason is malignant neoplasms.

If the bloody spots are light and appear immediately after a bowel movement, it is most likely a fissure in the anus.

Patients often ask about black stool with blood - what it could be. This symptom indicates hemorrhage occurring in the intestines or stomach, the presence of acute gastritis or an open ulcer.

The causes of blood discharge in stool can be different. All diseases characterized by this symptom arise as a result of poor nutrition, sedentary work, constant stress, etc. To protect yourself from problems and prevent bloody stool from appearing after alcohol, you need to adjust your lifestyle, exercise and eat only the right foods.

Blood with mucus

The appearance of blood and mucus in the stool is one of the symptoms. This is an inflammatory disease that affects the rectal mucosa. A similar symptom is also characteristic of ulcerative colitis.

But blood discharge with mucus can also indicate more serious pathologies, for example, benign or malignant neoplasms in the intestines.

Bloody streaks in stool

If the veins are noticeable for more than one day, combined with pain, lack of appetite and weight loss, you should immediately go to the doctor to undergo a comprehensive examination.

In pregnant women, feces mixed with blood most often appear due to cracks in the anus. If the discharge is dark and thick, and the stool turns black, you should visit a doctor to rule out serious pathologies. It is important to remember that even the slightest loss of blood can negatively affect the health of the expectant mother and baby.

During childbirth, the intestines are subjected to severe stress, resulting in bloody discharge in the bowel movements. Usually the symptom disappears after a couple of days of the baby being born. In addition, pushing can lead to the formation of hemorrhoids and subsequent bleeding. In this case, treatment is carried out under the constant supervision of a doctor.

The first question that all patients ask is which doctor to go to if they have blood in their stool. A proctologist treats such ailments. He will conduct the necessary examinations, determine the cause of the problems and select the optimal treatment regimen.

If there is gastric bleeding, the patient is hospitalized. It is impossible to cure this disease on an outpatient basis. The same is done when dysentery, intestinal obstruction, oncology, or severe ulcerative colitis are detected. If bloody discharge appears in the stool due to moderate or mild ulcerative colitis, only a doctor can determine what to do and how to treat bloody stool. As a rule, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis and includes taking medications and following a strict diet.

When the cause of the problem is fissures in the anus, the main therapy is designed to eliminate the underlying causes of the disease. In case of cracks, it is important to monitor bowel movements and prevent constipation, as they can once again injure the intestinal mucosa. In addition, the patient must eat properly. The diet should include boiled vegetables, black bread, and dairy products. It is better to avoid food that is difficult to digest.

Treatment with folk remedies

Many patients are interested in how to treat the causes of stool with blood using traditional medicine recipes. The most popular in the treatment of intestinal diseases are:

potassium permanganate solution - water for baths should be warm;
chamomile decoction - quickly heals cracks and relieves inflammation;
with the addition of chestnut bark.

Traditional methods should complement drug treatment and in no case replace it. It is important to remember that only an experienced doctor can determine the reason for the fact that blood is coming out in the stool, and successful recovery is possible if all his recommendations are followed. Early diagnosis is important – sometimes it can save the patient’s life.

As a rule, people remain silent about diseases that affect the genitals and anus. For some reason, most people are ashamed of such ailments. They turn to doctors in very complex and advanced situations, or do not resort to their services at all. The problem of blood from the anus during bowel movements was no exception.

At the same time, it is worth knowing that anal bleeding can indicate serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which pose a threat to the health and sometimes the life of the patient. Therefore, neither the patient nor the doctor can ignore such a formidable symptom, in order to prevent further development of the disease and its complications.

If we look at the statistics, bleeding from the anus is most often observed in women and men with hemorrhoids. With this disease, blood is released from the anus, usually without pain, during or at the end of the act of defecation, often dropwise, sometimes in a stream, and in advanced cases - in the form of “splashes”. The color is scarlet.

Causes of bleeding from the anus

Why is there bleeding from the anus, and what to do in this case? In adults, this symptom is primarily associated with damage to the mucous membrane of the rectum and colon.

Rectal bleeding cannot in any way be correlated with a petty banality that can be shrugged off. If it appears during or after defecation, accompanied by pain or without it, it is imperative to contact a proctologist in order to provide adequate treatment with timely diagnosis.

Common causes of bleeding from the anus in women and men:

The leader of such a symptom is. Blood usually appears after bowel movements. The color of the blood is scarlet, the blood is not mixed with feces.
. With this disease, inflammation and ulceration occurs in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, most often in the colon.
. Blood from the rectum comes in small portions, is observed after stool, and is accompanied by a painful burning sensation immediately after bowel movement.
Blood may appear due to constipation. The human body is built in such a way that inside the anus there is a fairly densely developed network of blood vessels.
Polyps. The amount of bleeding depends on the location and size of the polyp, and can be either light or heavy.
Proctitis. Ulceration of the rectal mucosa with subsequent inflammation. The blood is accompanied by mucus and mixed with feces.
. Excessive bleeding occurs. The chair is decorated.
And . Accompanied by heavy bleeding simultaneously with the release of tarry stools (so-called meren). The first sign of such a disease is vomiting blood.
Diverticulosis is the formation of diverticula (pockets and protrusions in the intestinal mucosa). When they are injured, feces mixed with blood are released during bowel movements.
Rectal cancer. Bleeding in this case is similar to bleeding from the rectum when polyps form.
Bleeding in people with. The cause is not the disease itself, but reduced immunity, which contributes to the rapid progression of any disease, including symptoms of bleeding from the anus.
Other systemic diseases.

In some cases, the phenomenon of scarlet blood from the anus may be the result (side effect) of taking certain medications (antibiotics, drugs that contain potassium).

Blood color

By the nature of the blood released, one can judge possible diseases in women and men:

Cherry color of blood is characteristic of pathologies of the colon.
Red rectal bleeding indicates the development of cancer, as well as the presence of polyps. The appearance of a polyp in the rectum is not an incurable disease, since polyps are classified as benign tumors.
Scarlet blood from the anus, which you find on your underwear or when using toilet paper, may indicate an anal fissure or hemorrhoids.
Dark blood clots from the anus indicate the presence of diseases such as diverticulosis and colon tumors.
Black discharge and tarry stools is evidence of the presence of diseases of the stomach, small intestine and duodenum.

Scarlet blood from the anus during defecation

Anal bleeding of varying intensity may indicate serious problems in the digestive system. By the color of the liquid, you can determine the part of the intestine that has been damaged.

Thus, scarlet blood released from the anus without pain indicates a violation of the integrity of the tissues of the rectum, colon or diseases of the anus. Most often it is hemorrhoids or anal fissure.

Haemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids may be accompanied by bleeding both after bowel movements and during bowel movements. Bleeding appears as blood drops on paper or linen. In this case, the blood will be scarlet.

Discharge usually appears after passing bulky or hard stools, and sometimes occurs after heavy physical activity. With hemorrhoids, as with anal fissures, blood clots may remain in the stool. A characteristic symptom of hemorrhoids is red nodular formations protruding from the rectum, possibly with a bluish tint.

The main drugs for the treatment of hemorrhoids are anti-varicose drugs that normalize blood circulation and venous outflow from the pelvic organs. Representatives of this group of drugs are troxevasin, escusan, reparil, tribenozide, anavenol, aspirin, detralex. However, the range of their use is limited by contraindications and side effects.

If conservative methods do not help, surgical treatment of hemorrhoids is prescribed:

Latex ligation: a ring is put on the leg of the enlarged hemorrhoid, as a result of which blood circulation is disrupted and the hemorrhoid tissues die;
Sclerotherapy: the doctor injects an agent into the enlarged hemorrhoidal node, which leads to the collapse of its walls, which makes it possible to eliminate hemorrhoids of I-III degrees;
Hemorrhoidectomy: during the operation, the doctor removes dilated hemorrhoidal vessels, after which the wound is usually sutured;
Electrocoagulation: During anoscopy, the hemorrhoid is coagulated with an electrode, after which its tissues die and fall off over time.

Anal fissure

The delicate problem of anal fissures occurs mainly in people suffering from constipation. Retention of stool, hard stool, combined with irritation of the anorectal area with soap and hygiene products is fraught with micro-tears of the skin and mucous membranes.

As a result, every trip to the toilet turns into torture. Fear of defecation causes psychological constipation, a vicious circle closes. The main symptoms of an anal fissure are blood in the stool and severe pain during bowel movements. The doctor makes a diagnosis after detecting a crack at the junction of the rectal mucosa and the skin.

Intestinal polyps

These are benign neoplasms that grow on a stalk or are located on a broad base. For a long time, the polyps do not manifest themselves in any way; less often, patients experience constipation or diarrhea associated with impaired intestinal motility.

The danger of the disease lies in the fact that polyps often degenerate into a cancerous tumor. The surface of polyps can bleed, and the larger the size of the formation, the more easily its surface is damaged.

Malignant intestinal tumors

The counterweight to polyps are malignant tumors. They can also bleed at any stage of their development. Most often, they initially make themselves felt either by the appearance of blood from the anus or by intestinal obstruction. It is much easier to diagnose them if they are localized in the rectum. Then any doctor, after conducting a digital examination, will be able to promptly detect the problem and refer the patient for treatment.

The bleeding itself from malignant intestinal tumors can manifest itself in different ways. Sometimes blood appears brightly colored or mixed with stool after a bowel movement. As for the intensity of bleeding, it can also be different. If a tumor bleeds and disintegrates, then very severe bleeding is observed, since large vessels are involved in the process.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Characterized by ulcerative damage to the intestinal wall due to autoimmune pathological processes in the body.

The resulting ulcerative defects of the intestinal wall lead to frequent bleeding; in addition, patients are bothered by intense abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and elevated body temperature. The character of stool in these diseases varies from melena (black stool) to heavy bloody discharge.

Intestinal diverticulosis

This is a protrusion of the intestinal mucosa through its outer layer. The disease can be complicated by bleeding, intestinal invasion and peritonitis.

Signs of incipient diverticulitis:

abdominal pain, especially in the lower left;
bleeding from the anus;
sometimes - an increase in temperature.

The main thing in this case is to establish bowel movements to prevent the appearance of new diverticula. And treatment depends on the severity and neglect of the disease. It can be carried out using only medications or by surgery with the removal of tissue affected by diverticula.

Acute intestinal infection

The disease is accompanied by severe bleeding from the anus, high fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. Examples of acute intestinal infections are dysentery, salmonellosis, and amoebiasis.

What to do if there is bleeding from the anus?

If you find blood from your anus, treatment for such a problem should begin after the cause has been established, since this is just a symptom and not an independent disease.

Accordingly, in order to accurately determine the cause of bloody discharge from the anus, and to reliably make sure that they are not associated with cancer or other dangerous intestinal disease, you should contact a proctologist for examination. He will tell you what to do and what examinations you should undergo to clarify the diagnosis.

Diagnosis and treatment

In proctology, various methods are used to help determine what caused bleeding from the anus:

Fecal analysis, which makes it possible to detect blood, even if it is invisible visually, is prescribed in cases where the doctor suspects the patient has a disease, the symptom of which is rectal bleeding.
Irrigoscopy – to carry it out, a special substance is injected into the intestines, which is necessary to obtain a clear image on an x-ray.
Gastroduodenoscopy– examination of the patient using an endoscope, allowing to assess the condition of the mucous membrane of the digestive organs. Sometimes this method is used to treat - cauterization - ulcers.
Rectoscopy - with its help, the human digestive system is examined, and more specifically, its lower sections. With this method, doctors can identify hemorrhoids, anal fissures, and various formations in the sigmoid and/or rectum.
Colonoscopy is nothing more than a more extensive rectoscopy. It is carried out endoscopically and allows you to detect all changes that have occurred in the structure of the large intestine.

There can be many reasons for the discharge of blood from the anus in men and women. Only a specialist can install and remove them. And if after some time the release of blood during bowel movements stops, this does not mean that the cause of its occurrence has disappeared.

You need to take this problem very seriously, even if you suspect what caused the disorder. There are a number of diseases that can cause blood to appear after bowel movements.