Red And Raw Beef Like Stools. Should I Be Concerned?

Posted on Fri, 17 Aug 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 Answered on

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : My poop looks very red, like raw beef. Has some regular light brown in it, but noticeably red. I am a vegetarian and haven't eaten anything noticeably red in the last few days like beets. Should I be concerned.?

Answered by Dr. Charles S Narasi (46 minutes later)

Dear XXXXXX,
If you are not eating a lot of beets, you may be eating or drinking
something that has red XXXXXXX as an ingredient. I would look into it first.
Next step would be check it for the presence of blood. I would be
more concerned if this was fresh blood mixed with stools that
could indicate more serious problem like a growth or polyp or
even cancer. Please follow through with your physician who can
order appropriate stool and blood studies along with X-ray
studies.
Wish you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar