What Causes Diarrhoea Along With Dark Stool?

Posted on Mon, 2 Feb 2015

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

Mon, 2 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have had diarrhea for about 2 months now. the stool is dark running and sometimes thin and loose. Have a lot of fatigue dry skin and itching. It started with no warning when I had to go i had to go. I have been drinking a lot of water to keep from being dehydrated and eating lots of fiber. And have been taking over the counter meditation as directed

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Partial bowels obstruction due to colon cancer can be the reason.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

I suggest you to consult your doctor as soon as possible. Such symptoms can be caused by partial bowels obstruction due to colon cancer. Over the age of 50, the risk of this cancer rises. You may have bloating and cramps with this issues as well.
If your stool is dark like a tar, bleeding from stomach or duodenum can be the reason as well.
Other possible reasons of your symptoms are inflammatory bowels disease or bacterial infection.
Please do not wait any longer. This might be urgent. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure.
Consult your doctor as soon as possible. Blood work, abdominal X-ray, abdominal ultrasound and colonoscopy should be done.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

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