Bloody or tarry stools

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• Y

Lower digestive anatomy

Stools - bloody; Hematochezia; Melena; Stools - black or tarry

Call your doctor if you notice blood or changes in the color of your stool. Even if you think that hemorrhoids are causing blood in your stool, your doctor should examine you in order to make sure that there is no other, more serious cause present at the same time.

In children, a small amount of blood in the stool is usually not serious. The most common causes are constipation and milk allergies. But it is still worth reporting to your doctor, even if no workup is necessary.

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, focusing on your abdomen and rectum.

The following questions may be included in the history to better understand the possible causes of your bloody or dark stools:

• Is there blood on the toilet paper only?
• What color is the stool?
• When did it develop?
• Have you had more than one episode of blood in your stool? Is every stool this way?
• Are you taking blood thinners or NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin)?
• Have you ingested black licorice, lead, Pepto-Bismol, or blueberries?
• Have you had any abdominal trauma or swallowed a foreign object accidentally?
• What other symptoms are also present -- abdominal pain, vomiting blood, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, or fever?
• Have you lost any weight recently?

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the bleeding. For serious bleeding, you may be admitted to a hospital for monitoring and workup. If there is massive bleeding, you will be monitored in an intensive care unit. Emergency treatment may include a blood transfusion.

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

• Blood studies, including a CBC and blood differential
• Colonoscopy
• Gastroscopy or EGD
• Bleeding scan
• Angiography
• Barium studies
• Stool culture
• X-rays of the abdomen
• Tests for the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection

Review Date: 10/27/2005
Reviewed By: Courtney W. Houchen, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.