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red stool causes

by Dr. Rylan Schowalter DVM Published 4 years ago Updated 3 years ago

9 red stool causes

  • Diet. Processed foods are filled with dyes. Eating something heavy in red dye can affect the color of your stool.
  • Infections. Infections can result in red stool, such as the following. Viral: If the health of your digestive system is...
  • Trauma. Trauma can result in red stool, such as the following. Rectal trauma: Anal fissures are one example of trauma...

Bright red blood or maroon-colored stools usually indicate a problem in the lower part of the digestive tract such as hemorrhoids or diverticulitis. After getting a medical history and doing a physical exam, the health care provider may order tests to determine the cause of bleeding.Nov 11, 2021

Full Answer

What causes presence of red particles in stool?

  • Tomatoes
  • Pimentos
  • Strawberries, raspberries
  • Cherry skin
  • Red grape skin
  • Beets, paprika and more. ...
  • Use a spoon or scooping tool to remove from the toilet.
  • Be careful, as the removal could separate fecal matter, and you might lose the suspect clump as it disperses.
  • This procedure works best on very well-formed stools.

More items...

What causes red or maroon stools?

Some of the foods that can cause red stools include:

  • Red gelatin, popsicles, Gatorade, or Kool-Aid
  • Tomato juice or soup
  • Large amounts of beets
  • Anything colored with red food coloring (red #40)

What could cause red blood in stool?

The following medical conditions may cause bright red blood in stool:

  • Anal fissures
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Diverticulitis
  • Proctitis
  • Rectal ulcers
  • Colon cancer

What is the cure for blood in stool?

You will often have a blood test (for anaemia) and usually one of the following tests is suggested:

  • Sigmoidoscopy.
  • Colonoscopy.
  • A virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography).

Why is my stool red?

Now let's discuss some causes of red stool. Stool that is red- or maroon-colored because it contains blood is called hematochezia. The brighter color of the blood is because it is coming from somewhere lower in the digestive tract, like the colon or the rectum. If you see blood in the stool, it should always be checked out by a doctor.

What causes red blood in stool?

Colon Polyps . Colon polyps can also cause red blood to appear in the stool. Polyps are growths on the inside of the colon that are believed to be the start of colon cancer. 2  Blood from these sources is not always visible in or on the stool, and is called occult blood.

What does it mean when your stool changes color?

Blood is a warning sign for both serious digestive problems, such as colon cancer, and relatively common and easily treated problems, like hemorrhoids. Find out if the change in your stool color could be from something you ate or if you actually do need to call your doctor.

What causes a lot of bleeding in the digestive tract?

Digestive Disorders. Inflammatory bowel disease and diverticular disease are also sources of bleeding from the digestive tract. 2  Both Crohn's disease of the colon and ulcerative colitis can result in blood passed in the stool, frequently along with diarrhea.

How much blood is in a black stool?

To figure out how much blood is present in a black stool, a physician may order a fecal occult blood test . Melena can be caused by 200 milliliters (or more) of blood being passed in the stool, which is also equivalent to a quarter of a cup or four tablespoons. The darkened color of the blood is a sign that the bleeding is coming ...

Why does my stool stop coming out?

The color will stop when that food is digested and leaves the body.

What causes gastritis in the stomach?

Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining and can be caused by overindulging in alcohol or food, eating spicy foods, smoking, infection with bacteria, or prolonged use of NSAIDs. Conditions that can lead to gastritis include pernicious anemia, autoimmune diseases, and chronic bile reflux.

Why is my stool red?

Several different types of food with natural or artificial coloring may cause red in the stool, 2  which looks like blood, but it isn't. Check food labels because a food might not appear red but may still have red food coloring in it.

What does it mean when your poop is red?

If there is a chance the red seen in a poop could be blood, a physician should be consulted immediately. However, if the reason for the red stool is not clear, try to remember the recent foods eaten, especially any that are red or orange. The medical term for visible blood in the stool is hematochezia . The brighter color of the blood indicates ...

What is the condition where the colon bulges out of a weakened spot?

A diverticulum is a small pouch in the colon that bulges out of a weakened spot in the colon wall. The condition of having diverticula in the colon is called diverticulosis and it affects about 10 percent percent of Americans over the age of 40 years. 4 

What does it mean when you see blood in your stool?

The medical term for visible blood in the stool is hematochezia . The brighter color of the blood indicates that it may be coming from a source in the lower gastrointestinal tract (such as the colon, or large intestine), 1  rather than in the higher gastrointestinal tract (such as the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine ).

Is it normal to have blood in your stool?

Blood in the stool is never normal, but neither is it always an emergency or a sign of cancer. The important thing is to see a doctor as soon as possible to be evaluated. If there is severe pain, a lot of bleeding, or vomiting along with the blood, get medical attention right away. A physician can help put the bleeding into perspective ...

Can IBD cause a bleed in the digestive tract?

IBD may cause bleeding in the digestive tract that appears in the stool or the toilet. Several diagnostic tests are normally completed and studied by a digestive specialist before a diagnosis of IBD is made. Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Symptoms

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Having a red stool can be startling, and immediately there's a fear that it might be blood, but there are a few reasons that a stool can be red that aren't due to blood. If there is a chance the red seen in a poop could be blood, a physician should be consulted immediately. However, if the reason for the red stool is not clear, try to …
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Diagnosis

  • The medical term for visible blood in the stool is hematochezia. The brighter color of the blood indicates that it may be coming from a source in the lower gastrointestinal tract (such as the colon, or large intestine), rather than in the higher gastrointestinal tract (such as the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine). A physician should always investigate blood in the stool to rule out …
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Causes

  • Several different types of food with natural or artificial coloring may cause red in the stool, which looks like blood, but it isn't. Check food labels because a food might not appear red but may still have red food coloring in it. Some of the foods that can cause red stools include:
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Signs and symptoms

  • Symptoms of a fissure include an anal lump, bright red blood in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper, painful bowel movements, and swollen skin tag. A fissure is typically diagnosed with a visual or a rectal exam. Fissures can be caused by constipation or by forcing a hard bowel movement through the anus, during childbirth, or ulceration of hemorrhoids.
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Overview

  • Diverticular bleeding. A diverticulum is a small pouch in the colon that bulges out of a weakened spot in the colon wall. The condition of having diverticula in the colon is called diverticulosis and it affects about 10 percent percent of Americans over the age of 40 years. Although not common, diverticula may cause bleeding that appears in the stool or the toilet. This bleeding may not requ…
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Clinical significance

  • Colon polyps. A rarer cause of blood in the stool is a colon polyp. A polyp is a growth on the wall of the colon or rectum. Some colon cancers may develop from these polyps. Discovering polyps early through a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy and having them removed may help prevent colon cancer. By the time a colon polyp is causing visible bleeding, cancer is often already prese…
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