When there is leakage of blood through the rectum, rectal bleeding can occur resulting in blood in stool. The color of the stool would change to dark red or black or maroon indicating presence of blood. Blood in stool is a valid reason for raising concerns and visiting doctor, but not all the rectal bleeding are serious. Some of the common causes of bloody stool are anal fissure, hemorrhoids, colon cancer and polyps. It can also occur when there is bleeding in the intestine or stomach.
To find out the actual cause, your doctor may request for investigations like colonoscopy, anoscopy and other imaging tests. Blood in stool can be treated after knowing the root cause. In medical terms, rectal bleeding is described as hematochezia. Often blood in stool is temporary and mild and requires no treatment. However if the episodes are persistent and severe you need to consult your doctor immediately. Severe blood loss can occur if the bleeding is recurrent and the patient may pass out.
Symptoms :
Obviously, the bowel movement will be accompanied by few drops of blood that can change the toilet color pinkish or red. In serious cases and persistent bleeding, the person needs to be hospitalized and given immediate treatment to stop further blood loss.
Blood In Stool Causes :
There are number of causes and medical conditions which can cause blood leakage in stool. The causes range from mild (small cut in the anus) to severe (hemorrhoids) and life threatening (blood leak in the internal parts). Anal fissure is one of the common causes of blood in stool. When the bowel becomes hard it can tear off the soft tissue lining of the anus causing anal fissure. Once the skin gets torn bowel movement can cause pain with bloody leakage.
Hemorrhoids can bleed developing inflammation causing discomfort and bleeding. These are small clumps or cushion like tissues found in the anal canal. Sometimes this cushion like masses becomes enlarged and leaks blood. A mild case of hemorrhoids requires no treatment. Diverticulosis is another common cause of blood in stool. Old adults can develop diverticula (little sacks on the colon) which can become weak over years causing bleeding. Severe form of diverticulosis can cause symptoms like abdominal pain, high fever and rectal bleeding.