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The presence of bright red blood in stool, known as hematochezia, typically indicates lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Digested blood from the upper gastrointestinal tract may appear black rather than red, resulting in "coffee ground" vomit or melena. [2] Other signs and symptoms include feeling tired, dizziness, and pale skin color. [18]
Blood in stool looks different depending on how early it enters the digestive tract—and thus how much digestive action it has been exposed to—and how much there is. The term can refer either to melena, with a black appearance, typically originating from upper gastrointestinal bleeding; or to hematochezia, with a red color, typically originating from lower gastrointestinal bleeding. [6]
Those with rectal bleeding may notice bright red blood in their stool. Symptoms associated with rectal bleeding include having several bowel movements in a day, feelings of incomplete rectal evacuation, straining, hard or lumpy stools, feelings of urgency, loose or watery stools, and leakage of bowel movement. [2]
Internal hemorrhoids usually present with painless, bright red rectal bleeding during or following a bowel movement. [8] The blood typically covers the stool (a condition known as hematochezia), is on the toilet paper, or drips into the toilet bowl. [8] The stool itself is usually normally coloured. [8]
Diverticular disease can present with painless rectal bleeding as bright red blood per rectum. Diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. [9] However, it is estimated that 80% of these cases are self-limiting and require no specific therapy. [10]
At baseline, diarrhea means having loose, watery stools. However, stress-induce diarrhea usually happens leading up to or surrounding a stressful event, Dr. Farhadi says.
A complete blood count as well as an hemoglobin test should be performed when a patient presents symptoms of hematochezia. A colonoscopy may be necessary if there is suspicion of bleed from colon particularly in the elderly to look for the site and many causes of bleed like carcinoma, ulcerative colitis, rectal varices or other lesions and in certain instances upper gastrointestinal endoscopy ...
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