Rectal bleeding; Blood in the stool; Hematochezia; Lower gastrointestinal bleeding Rectal bleeding is when blood passes from the rectum or anus. Bleeding may be noted on the stool or be seen as blood on toilet paper or in the toilet. The blood may be bright red. The term "hematochezia" is used to describe this finding. The anus is a sphincter at the end of the rectum through which passes stool during defecation. The anal sphincter is a critical mechanism for control of fecal continence. The most common causes of hemorrhoids are straining at bowel movements, prolonged sitting and pregnancy. Internal hemorrhoids occur above the anal sphincter, and external hemorrhoids occur below, outside the anal canal. There are 3 basic tests for colon cancer; a stool test (to check for blood), sigmoidoscopy (inspection of the lower colon), and colonoscopy (inspection of the entire colon). All 3 are effective in catching
cancers in the early stages, when treatment is most beneficial. The color of the blood in the stools may indicate the source of bleeding. Black or tarry stools may be due to bleeding in the upper part of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, such as the esophagus,
stomach, or the first part of the small intestine. In this case, blood is most often darker because it gets digested on its way through the GI tract. Much less commonly, this type bleeding can be brisk enough to present with bright rectal bleeding. With rectal bleeding, the blood is red or fresh. This usually means that the source of bleeding is the lower GI tract (colon and rectum). Eating beets or foods with red food coloring can sometimes make stools appear reddish. In these
cases, your doctor can test the stool with a chemical to rule out the presence of blood. Rectal bleeding causes include:
When to Contact a Medical ProfessionalContact your health care provider if there is:
You should see your provider and have an exam, even if you think that hemorrhoids are causing the blood in your stool. In children, a small amount of blood in the stool is most often not serious. The most common cause is constipation. You should still tell your child's provider if you notice this problem. What to Expect at Your Office VisitYour provider will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. The exam will focus on your abdomen and rectum. You may be asked the following questions:
You may need to have one or more imaging tests to look for the cause:
You may have one or more lab tests before, including:
ReferencesKaplan GG, Ng SC. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 115. Kwaan MR. Hemorrhoids, anal fissure, and anorectal abscess and fistula. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2020. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:222-226. Lamps LW. Anus. In: Goldblum JR, Lamps LW, McKenney JK, Myers JL, eds. Rosai and Ackerman's Surgical Pathology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 18. Meguerdichian DA, Goralnick E. Gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 27. Swartz MH. The abdomen. In: Swartz MH, ed. Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 17. Version InfoLast reviewed on: 4/13/2020 Reviewed by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Is blood from anus serious?It's usually a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider whenever you have rectal bleeding. It can be a sign of another health condition that might need treatment. If you have heavy bleeding or are seeing blood in multiple bowel movements, it's urgent that you see your provider.
When should I be worried about bleeding from anus?Seek immediate medical attention. Have someone drive you to an emergency room if rectal bleeding is: Continuous or heavy. Accompanied by severe abdominal pain or cramping.
Why is there so much blood coming out of my anus?This type of bleeding is usually caused by haemorrhoids (piles) or anal fissure. A haemorrhoid is a swollen vein inside the anus. A fissure is a split in the lining of the anus. Both can be caused by constipation, and may cause difficult and painful bowel movements.
How do you stop bright red bleeding from anus?However, in some cases, bright red blood in the stool may indicate bleeding in the lower colon or rectum.. antibiotics.. topical creams or ointments.. eating more fiber.. procedures such as a colonoscopy, or, in some cases, surgery to remove part of the colon.. |