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Melena is a form of blood in stool which refers to the dark black, tarry feces that are commonly associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. [1] The black color and characteristic strong odor are caused by hemoglobin in the blood being altered by digestive enzymes and intestinal bacteria.
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]
Blood may be observed in vomit or in altered form as black stool. Depending on the amount of the blood loss, symptoms may include shock. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by peptic ulcers, gastric erosions, esophageal varices, and rarer causes such as gastric cancer.
Dark foods like beets, blueberries, dark licorice, and even a lot of spinach can cause your poop to look black, Dr. Farhadi says. “Dark foods contain certain dyes which can turn the food red or ...
Dark blood in stools. Dizziness or fainting. Perforation. Severe abdominal pain or cramping. Bloating or a swollen abdomen. Fever or chills. Nausea and vomiting. Pain or tenderness when touching ...
In fact, calcium-containing antacids are known to cause changes in stool color. ... dark urine. swelling in the ankles or legs. persistent itching. pain in the abdomen and back.
A number of foods and medications can turn the stool either red or black in the absence of bleeding. [2] Bismuth found in many antacids may turn stools black as may activated charcoal. [2] Blood from the vagina or urinary tract may also be confused with blood in the stool. [2]
Other common signs include dark urine (bilirubinuria) and pale fatty stool (steatorrhea). [15] Because bilirubin is a skin irritant, jaundice is commonly associated with severe itchiness. [16] [17] Eye conjunctiva has a particularly high affinity for bilirubin deposition due to high elastin content. Slight increases in serum bilirubin can ...