Bloody or tarry stools

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Lower digestive anatomy

Overview

Treatment

Bloody or tarry stools

Alternative Names:

Stools - bloody; Hematochezia; Melena; Stools - black or tarry
Call your health care provider if:

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.

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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.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

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

Prevention:

Eat vegetables and foods rich in natural fiber and low in saturated fat. These may reduce constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, and colon cancer.
Avoid prolonged, excessive use of anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. These can irritate the stomach and cause ulcers.
If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.Large amounts of alcoholcan irritate the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
DON'T smoke. It is linked to peptic ulcers and cancers of the GI tract.
Try to avoid too much stress -- a possible factor in peptic ulcer disease.
Your doctor may recommend antibiotics to prevent a future bleeding ulcer if you have been diagnosed with a helicobacter infection (often related to ulcers).