Bloody bowel movements are a disturbing and frightening symptom. Although blood in stools can be a sign of a severe health problem, bloody bowel movements can also be caused by something simple.
Causes of Bloody Stools
- Colitis– Colitis is an infection or inflammation of the digestion, known as inflammation of the large intestine.
- Peptic ulcers– Peptic ulcers, which are often characterized by open sores in the lining of the stomach or the upper end of the small intestine, can also cause bleeding.
- Bacterial infection: Helicobacter pylorimost often causes digestive tract infections.
- Tears in the esophagus– A torn esophagus can cause blood to leak, which will later be excreted from the body during bowel movements.
- Polyps– Polyps are abnormal growths in the digestive tract that can bleed and cause bloody bowel movements.
- Cancer– Malignant tumors in the digestive tract or colon can cause bleeding.
Symptoms Of Bloody Stools
- Black, sticky bowel movements
- Bright red blood
- Dark red blood
- Stomach ache
- Vomit
- Faint
- Diarrhoea
- Weak
Tests Done To Identify Bloody Stools
- Nasogastric lavage – To perform this test, the doctor will insert, through the nose, a tube into the stomach to drain the contents. The results will show the presence of blood if there is bleeding.
- EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy– EGD is a test in which an endoscope is inserted through the mouth and pushed into the stomach until it finally enters the duodenum.
- Enteroscopy– This procedure is performed to examine the condition of the small intestine. The patient will usually swallow a capsule containing a tiny camera during enteroscopy.
- Colonoscopy– Colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that aims to examine the inside of the large intestine.
- Radionuclide scan– This procedure aims to check blood circulation in the digestive tract to detect the possible location of the bleeding.
- Barium X-ray – A bariumX-ray scan is performed by injecting barium into the patient’s body as a reference substance. After that, an X-ray scanner is used to detect and follow the movement of barium as it flows through the body.
Types Of Treatment Available
- Antibiotic drug
- Reduction of stomach acid
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Operation
Conclusion
Many things can cause bloody bowel movements. Blood in stools is a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract. So many things can cause this symptom, and patients should immediately consult a doctor so that the doctor can directly carry out the medical tests needed to make an accurate diagnosis.