Common Reasons for Bloody Stools
Some common disease causing bloody stools are:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Infectious diarrhea or bacterial gastroenteritis
- Hemorrhoids (Piles)
- Gastritis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD includes:
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
The cause of IBD is unknown, but genetic factors seem to play a role. Chronic ulcerative colitis tends to occur in certain families. Inflammation frequently occurs at the end of the small intestine where it joins the large intestine, but it may affect any area of the digestive tract. The intestinal wall becomes thick, and deep ulcers may form.
The disease may occur at any age, but adolescence and early adulthood are the prevalent age groups.
Symptoms
Associated Symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Abdominal mass
- Abdominal sounds
- Clubbing(bulbing) of the fingers or toes
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Foul smelling stools
- Tenesmus (painful stools)
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
- Bloody stools
- Joint pain
- Incontinence
- Swollen gums
- Constipation
- Abdominal fullness – gaseous
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnosis is confirmed on tests such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy with small bowel biopsy .
Small bowel follow is required through
Barium enema
Upper GI series
Positive stool guaiac
A stool culture may be done to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms.
Treatment is by medications to control the inflammatory process. Initial therapy is usually with the oral 5-aminosalicylates. If this is not effective or if the case is severe, treatment may require corticosteroids and the immunomodulators (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine).
Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat abscesses and fistulas, if present. Infliximab (antibody to tumor necrosis factor alpha) is effective for moderate to severe disease.
If medical therapy is not effective, then surgery may be required to resect a diseased or strictured segment or to drain an abscess.
Foods that worsen the symptoms and should be avoided. Specific food problems may vary from person to person. People who have blockage of the intestines may need to avoid raw fruits and vegetables. Some people have difficulty digesting lactose (milk sugar) may need to avoid milk products.
