What Is Blood in Stool?

Description of the disease

Blood in stool, also known as hematochezia or melena, usually indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract. It can manifest as bloody streaks or discoloration of the stool into a dark red color.

Classification

• Obvious: blood is visible to the naked eye in the stool
• Occult: bleeding in the GI tract that cannot be seen without special tests

Symptoms

Main symptoms include blood in the stool, changes in stool color, and anemia due to blood loss.

Causes

Causes may include ulcers, polyps, diverticula, inflammatory GI diseases, cancer, and other reasons.

Diagnosis

• Colonoscopy
• Fecal tests
• CT, MRI, and ultrasound

Treatment

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include medication, surgery, and other methods.

Prevention

Preventive measures include healthy eating, regular physical activity, and cancer screening.

Physician

Gastroenterologist specializes in diagnosing and treating GI diseases.