Blood in stool: Causes, Symptoms and Clinical Significance

In some cases, blood found in feces can be a symptom of a serious illness, such as colorectal cancer.

◉ Is it dangerous to have blood in the stool?

Having blood in the stool is often a minor symptom of a disease that can be easily treated. However, in some cases, this situation can be serious:

• If the bleeding is very heavy or very frequent, it may lead to shock (sweating, hypotension, tachycardia, ETC.).
• If the bleeding is caused by a serious illness such as colorectal cancer.

◉ Causes of blood in the stool

• Hemorrhoids: Are swollen veins in the rectum, inside the anus, or under the skin around the outside of the anus that can develop due to constipation or frequent sitting. Typically, the amount of bleeding from hemorrhoids is small.
• Anal fissures: Small, painful tears in the lining of the anus can be caused by constipation, diarrhea, difficult bowel movements, or sexual activity.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): There are two types: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation of the digestive system, leading to diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bleeding bright red blood in the stool.
• Diverticulosis: Small pockets in the lining of the colon (diverticula) can become inflamed, infected and can sometimes rupture and bleed.
• Food poisoning: Food contaminated with harmful bacteria can cause bloody stools.
• Ulcers: Open sores in the lining of the stomach or intestines are often caused by a bacterial infection.
• Diarrhea: Runny stools caused by illness, contaminated food, or overeating can lead to a sore or inflamed anus and streaks of blood that appear on toilet paper after multiple trips to the toilet.
• Polyps: A polyp is an extra piece of tissue that may appear in the colon or rectum. Most colon polyps are harmless, but they can also cause bright red blood in the stool.
• Esophageal problems: Esophageal varices or tears in the esophagus.
• Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract: Tumors can weaken the lining of the gastrointestinal tissues, causing bleeding.
• Angiodysplasia
• Foreign body
• Radiation colitis
• Rheumatoid purpura
• Abscess and Fecaloma

◉ Certain foods can make stools red:

• Cranberries
• Tomatoes
• Beets

◉ Other foods can make stools black

• Blueberries
• Dark leafy vegetables
• Black licorice

◉ Color of blood in the stool

When you have blood in your stool, it can show up in different ways. The color can indicate where the bleeding in the digestive tract is coming from and can help doctors find its source.

• Bright red blood in the stool often means the blood is fresh and the bleeding is lower in the colon or rectum.
• Dark red blood may mean the bleeding is higher up in the colon or in the small intestine.
• Black, tarry stools: May indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. As a general rule, the darker the blood, the higher the source of the bleeding.