What to do if there’s blood in the stool? | Blood in the stool

What to do if there’s blood in the stool?

A doctor should always be consulted if there is blood in the stool. Of course, the type of treatment always depends on the type of cause, so that no general measure can be named that should always be taken. In principle, the source of bleeding must first be identified and then the bleeding stopped.

A proper therapy is not always necessary – often the bleeding stops on its own. For example, it is often sufficient to stop a drug that damages the stomach or to use stomach-protective drugs. However, if there is heavy bleeding, the bleeding must be stopped quickly.

This is necessary, for example, if you have a bleeding stomach ulcer or bleeding oesophageal varicose veins. Often the bleeding is stopped directly during the diagnostic gastroscopy or colonoscopy, so that no additional intervention is necessary. Intestinal polyps and diverticula can also be removed during a colonoscopy.

The bleeding can be stopped during the course of the endoscopy by various procedures. Firstly, there are special clips which can, for example, close a bleeding blood vessel. Furthermore, the affected area can be injected with adrenaline.

Adrenaline causes the blood vessels to contract and thus stops the bleeding. Fibrin glue is also often used. Fibrin is an important component of blood clotting and can thus close the wound.

Lasers can also be used to close the wound. In the case of haemorrhoids, however, invasive surgery is usually not necessary. Ointments and suppositories often help.

Depending on the size of the haemorrhoids, however, some of them have to be removed surgically. If the cause of the blood in the stool is intestinal cancer, the therapy depends on the stage of the disease. Surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy are possible. Usually the treatments are combined with each other. – How to treat hemorrhoids successfully

  • Therapy for colon cancer
  • Therapy of the stomach ulcer

Which doctor treats blood in stool?

A first point of contact for unclear blood in the stool is the family doctor. Since in most cases harmless changes in digestion or simple infections of the gastrointestinal tract are behind the blood in the stool, the general practitioner can carry out the treatment. More complex complaints, however, may require specialist or even surgical treatment.

Persistent complaints with no other symptoms may indicate other diseases of the intestine. For this purpose, a colonoscopy should be performed, which can detect chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and tumours. The endoscopy is usually performed by a gastroenterologist in hospital.

Subsequent treatment can also be carried out by internists or by so-called “visceral surgeons”. In cases of haemorhoidal disease or diseases of the rectum, a proctologist can be consulted. Proctology is an additional training that can be acquired by many medical specialties and includes especially diseases of the rectum and anus.