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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]
An example of this could be the so-called "red currant jelly" stools in intussusception. This appearance refers to the mixture of sloughed mucosa, mucus, and blood. [12] Note: "mucus" is a noun, used to name the substance itself, and "mucous" is an adjective, used to describe a discharge. "Mucoid" is also an adjective and means mucus-like.
With severe cases, people may have discharge containing blood or pus, severe rectal pain, and diarrhea. Some people have rectal strictures, a narrowing of the rectal passageway. The narrowing of the passageway may cause constipation, straining, and thin stools. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2 (herpes proctitis)
Blood in stool: Red flags There are some symptoms that raise suspicion when they accompany blood in the stool, Dr. Bulsiewicz points out. These can include multiple bowel movements in a row with ...
Abdominal pain, vomiting, and stool with mucus and blood are present in acute gastroenteritis, but diarrhea is the leading symptom. Rectal prolapse can be differentiated by projecting mucosa that can be felt in continuity with the perianal skin, whereas in intussusception the finger may pass indefinitely into the depth of the sulcus.
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]
Mucus has trillions of microbes and is a first line of defense against microorganisms that cause infections, the NIH says. "Mucus is very helpful in terms of our immune system," Elliott says.
Hematochezia is a form of blood in stool, in which fresh blood passes through the anus while defecating. It differs from melena, which commonly refers to blood in stool originating from upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). [1] The term derives from Greek αἷμα ("blood") and χέζειν ("to defaecate").