There are many diseases that can cause bloody bowel movements, ranging from mild to severe and dangerous. Therefore, as an anticipatory measure, you need to identify the causes of bloody bowel movements and the steps for handling them.
Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common cause of bloody stools. However, bleeding can occur in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in different symptoms. The severity can also vary, ranging from light to heavy bleeding.
Causes of Bloody Defecation
Bleeding located in the upper and lower digestive tract can both be the cause of bloody bowel movements, it's just that the appearance of the blood is usually different.
Based on the appearance of blood in the stool, bloody stools are divided into two, namely: hematochezia and melena. The details are as follows:
Hematochezia
Hematochezia Usually occurs due to bleeding in the lower digestive tract, especially in the large intestine. Several conditions can cause hematochezia is:
- Hemorrhoids
- Diverticulitis
- Anal fissure
- Inflammation of the intestine
- Ischemic colitis
- Polyps and benign tumors
- Colon cancer
The blood that comes out on hematochezia bright red. This is because bleeding occurs in an area not far from the rectum, so the blood that comes out during bowel movements is still fresh. Blood can mix or separate with feces.
Melena
Melena usually occurs due to bleeding in the upper digestive tract, starting from the esophagus, stomach, to the duodenum. Some of the conditions that can cause melena are:
- Esophageal varicose veins
- Gastritis
- stomach ulcer
- stomach cancer
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome
The blood that comes out of melena is dark red or even black. In addition, the blood is also completely mixed with the feces and smells rancid. This is because bleeding occurs in the upper digestive tract, so the blood is mixed with stomach acid, digestive enzymes, bacteria in the large intestine, and the stool itself.
Although generally like this, the appearance of blood in the stool still depends on how long the blood stays in the digestive tract. Therefore, it is not impossible that bleeding in the upper digestive tract can also cause bleeding hematochezia or bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract causing melena.
How to Handle Bloody Defecation
The principle of handling bloody bowel movements is aimed at stopping bleeding and preventing bleeding from recurring. Doctors usually use an endoscope to determine the cause and location of bleeding. If possible, bleeding can also be managed through an endoscope.
Through an endoscopy, doctors can:
- Inject medicine to stop bleeding directly at the bleeding site
- Stop bleeding with electric current or laser
- Using clips on blood vessels to block bleeding
If the endoscope can't control the bleeding, your doctor may use angiography to inject medicine into the vein and stop the bleeding.
However, if through these two methods the source of the bleeding cannot be found or treated, a laparotomy is necessary, especially if the bleeding is profuse and the patient must be assisted immediately.
In addition to dealing with bleeding that has already occurred, the doctor will also perform therapy to treat the cause of bloody bowel movements so that bleeding does not recur. The example is:
- Antibiotic therapy to treat bacterial infections pylori causes of chronic gastritis
- Anti-inflammatory drug therapy to treat colitis
- Surgical treatment to remove polyps or the presence of damaged portions of the colon due to colon cancer, diverticulitis, or inflammatory bowel disease
- Chemotherapy or radiation for cancer that cannot be treated with surgery
The causes of bloody stools vary. Diagnosis and treatment also requires the expertise of a doctor. Because it can be caused by a life-threatening disease, this symptom cannot be underestimated.
Immediately consult a doctor if you find blood during bowel movements, especially if accompanied by other complaints, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, or drastic weight loss in the last 1 month.
