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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]
Other signs and symptoms include feeling tired, dizziness, and pale skin color. [18] 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]
“The tarry or stickiness of the stool and the smell are what differentiate true GI bleeding from other causes such as iron supplements, dark foods, and bismuth-containing medications,” he adds.
Hemosuccus pancreaticus is a rare cause of hemorrhage in the gastrointestinal tract.It is caused by a bleeding source in the pancreas, pancreatic duct, or structures adjacent to the pancreas, such as the splenic artery, that bleed into the pancreatic duct, which is connected with the bowel at the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.
Other names: Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gastrorrhagia: Endoscopic image of a posterior wall duodenal ulcer with a clean base, which is a common cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Specialty: Gastroenterology: Symptoms: Hematemesis (vomiting blood), coffee ground vomiting, melena, hematochezia (maroon-coloured stool) in severe cases
[1] [10] Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. [2] [5] [11] Complications may include dehydration. [3] The cause of dysentery is usually the bacteria from genus Shigella, in which case it is known as shigellosis, or the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica; then it is called amoebiasis. [1]
Other names: Travellers' diarrhoea, tourist diarrhea, [1] traveler's dysentery [1] The bacterium E. coli, the most common cause of Travelers' diarrhea: Specialty: Infectious diseases Symptoms: Unformed stool while traveling, fever, abdominal cramps, headache [2] [3] Duration: Typically < 5 days [3] Causes: Often bacterial [3] Risk factors ...