Blood in stool is often discovered with some anxiety, accompanied pertinently by exclamations of bloody (adjective, not expletive). Scarlet red blood droplets wrap the feces. Maroon red blood droplets besmirches the toilet tissue. Down the legs and into the toilet bowl drips bright red spots of blood. Quite naturally, alarm bells ring and cause a sudden pang of anxiety.
No undue fear is warranted yet as the hemorrhaging (technical word for bleeding) could be any one of 7 possible causes emanating from the colon. Unsettling they will be but the best part of the 7 causes are healable with early diagnosis and the right approach. Be cautious. Begin close monitoring. Visit your doctor without delay if bleeding, with pain, continues for over a week.
Pertinent treatment can be applied to solve the problem once rigorous diagnosis pinpoints the precise illness. More frighteningly, blood in stool may be the result of some kind of cancer.
Melena and Hematochezia
Whilst usually known as rectal bleeding, medically it is catalogued as hematochezia (bright red or maroon colored blood) or melena (black sticky or tarry stools). Rectal bleeding may leave via the rectum but the root cause may be in the colon (large intestine) or the small intestine. In the colon, the 7 known causes are cancer, colon polyps, diverticulosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal ischaemia and peptic ulcer.
Colorectal Cancer
640,000 people on earth die yearly from colorectal cancer, making it the 3rd most frequent reason behind of cancer-related death. It is the reason why one must consult a medical specialist for persistent blood in stool.
Malignant growths in the colon, appendix and rectum are categorised as colorectal cancer. Identified primarily via colonoscopy (visual diagnosis with a camera mounted on a flexible tube inserted through the anus), colorectal cancer treatment requires surgical excision accompanied by chemotherapy. Total healing is possible with early discovery. Chances of contracting colorectal cancer increase for those with family history of cancer and those over 50. Colorectal cancer is gender blind, striking both women and men, with no unambiguous bias for either sex..
It is critical to know this next bit of information. Quite the opposite of what is published elsewhere, colorectal cancer usually renders occult (not visible to the naked eye) blood in feces i.e it is NOT a regular cause of visible blood in stool! Bleeding produced by colorectal cancer may be visible or occult (unobservable by the naked eye), necessitating special tests for diagnosis; this based on studies by the University of Michigan Health System. Critical associated symptoms to watch out for are constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, appetite loss, weight loss and constant fatigue.
Colon Polyp
Growing on the walls of the intestines or the rectum, polyps are in the main benign and may be raised or flat. Polyps have a propensity to occur in those over 50 and with a family history of colorectal cancer and polyps. Smoking, alcohol, obesity and lack of exercise are contributory causal factors. In truth, the actual cause has not been identified.
Whilst benign, polyps are generally excised during colonoscopy as they can turn malignant. Many people who have polyps demonstrate no symptoms at all. But in others, blood in stool is present.
Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis causes pouches (diverticula) to stretch out of the colon wall. Abnormal colon pressure is postulated to be the reason of diverticula growth. Shortage of dietary fiber is believed to be a contributory factor. Diverticulitis is an infection that may arise if food gets lodged in diverticula. Further damage can arise if the infected diverticulum ruptures to spread bacteria to the abdominal lining. Peritonitis, which is potentially fatal, can develop.
The majority of people with diverticulosis do not note any symptoms at all. Mild cramps, constipation and bloating are some noted symptoms. More acute symptoms include nausea, vomiting and rectal bleeding. The dangers posed by peritonitis emphasises the need that blood in stool should first be examined by a doctor. Effective diagnosis of diverticulitis can be accomplished with a CT (computed tomography) scan.
Ulcerative Colitis
Colitis is classified as an inflammatory bowel disease, a group of inflammatory conditions of the small intestine and the large intestine (colon). Inflammation is a wholesome reaction of the body when its tissues are injured. Inflammation is a double-edged sword, triggering off regenerating of weakened tissue but causing tissue harm if left unchecked. Ulcers cause colitis in the colon by eroding the mucous membrane lining.
Apart from other symptoms, blood in stool is common. The dire prospect of peritonitis from colitis is the key reason for determining it as the cause of rectal bleeding.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease but is also an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract leading to harmful inflammation. From the mouth to the anus, Crohn’s disease can take root in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. However, the large intestine (colon) and small intestine, are the main sites~But it mainly affects the small and large intestine (colon)~The small and large intestine (colon), however, are the main affected areas.
Clear-cut causes are not known but it is believed to be due to one or all of several factors including industrial environmental exposure, genetic makeup and smoking. The symptoms are blood in stool, blood in toilet bowl or on toilet tissue, abdominal cramps, severe bloody diarrhea, weight loss and fever.
Often termed as granulomatous colitis, Crohn’s disease can go into remission and revert intermittently throughout life. Presently, there is no known surgical or pharmaceutical solution for Crohn’s disease. Early detection is important for effectual management of the symptoms and checking relapses.
Intestinal Ischemia
Ischemia is a suppression in blood supply to any part of the body. Dysfunctional arteries cause tissue damage due to the denial of blood nutrients and oxygen. Intestinal ischemia is the inadequacy blood supply causing inflammation of the large intestine; a result of blood clots, blood vessel constriction and general high blood pressure.
Symptoms include blood in stool, urgent and violent bowel movements, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, abdominal bloating and fever. Incessant pain warrants immediate medical attention to restore regular blood supply to the intestinal tract. Surgery may be needed to excise damaged tissue, blockages and blood clots and to get around blocked blood vessels. Anticoagulants and antibiotics are medications to check blood clots and infections respectively.
Peptic Ulcer
An intensely painful ulcer, this is located in the gastrointestinal tract. An erosion of the mucosal membrane that is at least 0.5cm in diameter is an ulcer. Peptic ulcers do not occur in the stomach, contrary to popular belief, but in the duodenum or the initial part of the small intestine. The primary cause is suspected to be a bacterium that causes chronic gastritis that develops into ulcer formation.
Symptoms include blood in stool (melena), appetite and weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting blood and intestinal perforation which is dangerous. This can lead to possibly deadly peritonitis and needs emergency surgery. In milder cases, bacteria and acidity can be cured by antibiotics and antacids respectively.
Hemorrhoids
The above 7 causes are the very reasons why rectal bleeding demands the experience of a medical doctor who can conduct a precise diagnosis. Correct treatment, including surgery, and medication can advance recovery after early detection.
Lest you be too startled by the above narrated causes, blood in stool is most commonly due to the relatively innocuous internal or external hemorrhoids.
Further Reading
If you are interested in finding more about this topic, we have a related post on Bowel Movement Bleeding – Six Possible Causes Of Rectal Bleeding at our site. Do check this out.