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What Causes Blood In Stool?
Posted on
Thu, 8 Dec 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 8 Dec 2016
Answered on
Thu, 29 Dec 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : My wife has significant blood in her stool for the last couple times she has gone to bathroom.
Brief Answer:
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Blood in the stool can be due to different possible causes such as: (1) infection- this is one of the more common causes. If she has diarrhea (at least 3 bowel movements a day), then this is the likely cause
The blood would then resolve as the infection improves
(2)hemorrhoids- this usually causes bright red blood on wiping. There would also be discomfort in the anus and pain on bowel movements.
This is treated with using stool softeners, avoiding prolonged standing or sitting, dabbing not wiping with bowel movements, pain killers and sitz baths.
(3)diverticular disease- this refers to outgrowths/outpockets in the colon. Not cancerous, happens with aging.
The outpockets can become infected or inflamed.
Acute inflammation of diverticular can sometimes require antibiotics
(4)benign (not cancer) growths in the colon. If she had a recent colonoscopy (within the past few years), then diverticular disease, polyps and cancer are not likely because these take a long time to develop.
(5)cancer
(6)inflammatory bowel disease- crohns disease, ulcerative colitis
Because there are so many potential causes, she would need to be examined and assessed to find the exact cause if it continues.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
different possible causes
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Blood in the stool can be due to different possible causes such as: (1) infection- this is one of the more common causes. If she has diarrhea (at least 3 bowel movements a day), then this is the likely cause
The blood would then resolve as the infection improves
(2)hemorrhoids- this usually causes bright red blood on wiping. There would also be discomfort in the anus and pain on bowel movements.
This is treated with using stool softeners, avoiding prolonged standing or sitting, dabbing not wiping with bowel movements, pain killers and sitz baths.
(3)diverticular disease- this refers to outgrowths/outpockets in the colon. Not cancerous, happens with aging.
The outpockets can become infected or inflamed.
Acute inflammation of diverticular can sometimes require antibiotics
(4)benign (not cancer) growths in the colon. If she had a recent colonoscopy (within the past few years), then diverticular disease, polyps and cancer are not likely because these take a long time to develop.
(5)cancer
(6)inflammatory bowel disease- crohns disease, ulcerative colitis
Because there are so many potential causes, she would need to be examined and assessed to find the exact cause if it continues.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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