How black stool is diagnosed

In the case of black stools, the anamnesis (doctor-patient conversation) is the first point of reference. The doctor should ask whether the black stool may have been caused by food, for example. Otherwise, a physical examination of the abdomen should be performed.

An ultrasound should also be performed. Blood tests in the laboratory can also provide information about the cause of the disease. In addition, a gastroscopy can be performed, in which a camera is inserted into the stomach through the esophagus. In this way a source of bleeding can be identified and possibly treated directly.

What are the symptoms that indicate that the black stool is pathological?

Black stool is in most cases suspicious of disease. Especially if it is the typical tar stool, which is caused by coagulated and oxidized blood in the stool. This is usually not only noticeable by the conspicuous coloration.

In addition, there is usually a distinctly strong odor of the stool. Even if the bowel movement itself is not completely black, but only black deposits on the stool, this is already suspicious of disease. Black stools that are not due to changed eating habits or the intake of dark foods can always tend to be pathological.

Occasionally, black stools are caused by medications that are particularly rich in iron or carbon.However, if such drugs are not taken, black stools should be assumed to have a pathological cause. Especially if factors are present that can promote the development of bleeding in the stomach and esophagus. These include the intake of painkillers as well as a therapy with blood thinners.

If other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or general symptoms such as weight loss, poor performance, fatigue, etc. occur in addition to black stool, black stool is also suspected of being a disease. Diarrhea is a very general symptom of the gastrointestinal tract.

Typically, it results in increased bowel movements (at least three times a day) and a soft to liquid consistency. In addition, the bowel movement may be discolored. Diarrhea can be caused by certain foods as well as by medication.

Infections of the digestive tract can also cause diarrhoea. If black stools are associated with diarrhoea, one should think of chronic inflammatory diseases, these often cause liquid stools and can also lead to bleeding, which colors the stool black. Flatulence is usually based on an imbalance in the digestive bacteria of the intestine.

If the composition of this so-called microbiome is changed by external influences, this can affect the function of the bacteria. As a result, the intestinal bacteria produce increased amounts of gases, which become noticeable in the form of an inflated intestine. The increased air can escape from the intestine through the flatulence.

Often flatulence and black stools occur during antibiotic therapy or the intake of iron tablets. Abdominal pain is a very unspecific symptom, which is not necessarily due to the digestive tract. However, in connection with black stools, one must think of a cause in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abdominal pain can be caused mainly by drugs such as iron tablets, which also color the bowel movement black. However, bleeding sources such as a stomach ulcer can also lead to black stools and abdominal pain. In this case, the abdominal pain is often dependent on the food intake.

Constipation occurs when there is not enough fluid in the bowel movement. This solidifies the bowel movement, making it particularly difficult to empty the bowel. However, constipation can also be caused by obstacles in the bowel.

If, for example, a tumor occurs in the bowel area, the bowel movement can no longer be transported to the end of the bowel and constipation occurs. In the case of constipation, the bowel is highly irritated, so that the dark or black coloration of the bowel movement can be caused. This might also be of interest to you:

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