Introduction
If you notice blood in your stool when you go to the toilet, many people affected often feel anxious. Often, one of the first thoughts goes in the direction of a cancer of the intestine. In doing so they forget that blood in the stool can also have numerous other common causes.
If there is blood in the stool, one should pay attention to the colour of the blood. Dark blood is more likely to indicate a disorder in the upper section of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas light blood is more likely to indicate a disorder in the lower section. In any case, it is certain that the presence of blood in the stool should be clarified by a doctor in order to clarify a cause that is malignant in some cases.
Causes of blood in stool
These causes may include hemorrhoids Inflammatory bowel disease Infection of the bowel Stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer Inflammation of the esophagus Stomach cancer Bowel cancer Diverticula or polyps Drugs
- Haemorrhoids
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal infections
- Gastric or duodenal ulcer
- Gullet inflammation
- Stomach cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Diverticula or polyps
- Drugs
Haemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids in the area of the anus can lead to blood in the stool, depending on their position and size. These are usually light red, as the blood is relatively fresh. The cause of the bloody admixtures is a direct mechanical irritation of the hemorrhoid surface during defecation. Hemorrhoids should be clarified by a doctor if they occur over a long period of time, as they are a risk factor for intestinal cancer.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can be caused as a symptom in combination with blood in the stool by various diseases. An example of this can be antibiotics that change the surface of the intestinal mucosa, which allows other pathogens to settle in. Another possibility are late effects in the context of a colon cancer disease.
If antibiotics are taken for a long time, as is the case with a pronounced pneumonia, the intestinal mucosa is damaged. The clostridia pathogens in particular use this to settle in the intestine. A characteristic symptom of this infection is so-called pseudomembranous diarrhoea, which can also be bloody.
Stomach ulcer / duodenal ulcer
Ulcers of the stomach or duodenum lead to so-called ulcerative changes in the mucous membrane. This means that there is a defect in the surface, which prevents it from performing its proper function. This disease is also called ulcer.
It often initially causes pain in the upper abdomen, but under certain circumstances it can also lead to blood in the stool. This is mainly caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, but in less frequent cases it can also be caused by medication or stress. The treatment focuses on reducing the acid production of the stomach through medication.
All articles in this series:
