If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Rectal bleeding usually refers to bleeding from the anus, rectum, or colon, all of which are the final portions of the digestive tract. In most cases, bright red blood indicates bleeding in the lower colon or rectum, while darker red blood is a sign of bleeding in the small bowel or upper colon. Very dark or black-red blood is often associated with bleeding in the stomach or other organs in the digestive system.
In this article, we examine 11 causes of rectal bleeding, along with other symptoms that each one can prompt. We also look at when rectal bleeding should be referred to a doctor. Hemorrhoids are inflamed anal blood vessels, and they are extremely common. They can develop on the outside or inside of the anus, appearing as small bumps that occasionally bleed during bowel movements or when wiping.
Hemorrhoids, which are also referred to as piles , can impact anyone of any age but are associated with a few risk factors , including:. Hemorrhoids usually respond well to over-the-counter creams and suppositories that contain hydrocortisone. Taking warm baths frequently, eating a high-fiber diet, and using stool softeners can also help reduce the discomfort of hemorrhoids. A fistula occurs when an abnormal opening or pocket develops between two neighboring organs. Fistulas that appear between the anus and rectum, or anus and skin, can cause a discharge of white fluid and blood.
Fistulas are sometimes treated with antibiotics , but they may require surgery if they progress. Fissures occur when tissues lining the anus, colon, or rectum are torn, resulting in pain and rectal bleeding. Warm baths, a high-fiber diet, and stool softeners can all help reduce symptoms of fissures. In severe cases, fissures may require prescription creams or surgery.
These pockets or diverticula are extremely common. Sometimes diverticula can start bleeding, but this bleeding usually stops on its own. Usually, these pockets do not cause symptoms or require treatment unless they become infected, which is when a condition called diverticulitis occurs.
Infected and inflamed diverticula are often painful and can cause rectal bleeding, usually a moderate rush of blood that flows for a few seconds. Proctitis occurs when the tissues that make up the rectum become inflamed, often resulting in pain and bleeding.
Colitis occurs when the tissues lining the colon become inflamed. A type of colitis called ulcerative colitis can also cause ulcers, or open, progressive sores, that are prone to bleeding. Treatments for proctitis and colitis vary, depending on the causes and range from antibiotics to surgery.
Bacterial infections can cause inflammation of the colon and stomach, causing diarrhea that may contain mucus and spots of blood. Viral gastroenteritis does not typically cause bloody diarrhea. Treatment for gastroenteritis usually involves fluids, rest, and antibiotics or antivirals, depending on the cause. Unprotected sexual intercourse that involves the anal area can spread a wide range of viral and bacterial diseases.
These can cause inflammation of the anus and rectum. Hemorrhoids can either be internal inside the anus or external under the skin around the anus. Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of minor rectal bleeding, and are typically not associated with pain. Bleeding from hemorrhoids is usually associated with bowel movements, or it may also stain the toilet paper with blood. The exact cause of bleeding from hemorrhoids is not known, but it often seems to be related to constipation, diarrhea, sitting or standing for long periods, obesity heavy lifting and pregnancy.
Symptoms from hemorrhoids may run in some families. Hemorrhoids are also more common as we get older. Fortunately, this very common condition does not lead to cancer. Medical treatment of hemorrhoids includes treatment of any underlying constipation, taking warm baths and applying an over-the-counter cream or suppository that may contain hydrocortisone.
If medical treatment fails there are a number of ways to reduce the size or eliminate internal hemorrhoids. Each method varies in its success rate, risks and recovery time. Your doctor will discuss these options with you. Rubber band ligation is the most common outpatient procedure for hemorrhoids in the United States. It involves placing rubber bands around the base of an internal hemorrhoid to cut off its blood supply.
This causes the hemorrhoid to shrink, and in a few days both the hemorrhoid and the rubber band fall off during a bowel movement. Possible complications include pain, bleeding and infection. After band ligation, your doctor may prescribe medications, including pain medication and stool softeners, before sending you home. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice severe pain, fever or significant rectal bleeding.
Laser or infrared coagulation and sclerotherapy injection of medicine directly into the hemorrhoids are also officebased treatment procedures, although they are less common. Surgery to remove hemorrhoids may be required in severe cases or if symptoms persist despite rubber band ligation, coagulation or sclerotherapy. Tears that occur in the lining of the anus are called anal fissures. This condition is most commonly caused by constipation and passing hard stools, although it may also result from diarrhea or inflammation in the anus.
In addition to causing bleeding from the rectum, anal fissures may also cause a lot of pain during and immediately after bowel movements. Most fissures are treated successfully with simple remedies such as fiber supplements, stool softeners if constipation is the cause and warm baths. Your doctor may also prescribe a cream to soothe the inflamed area.
A colonoscopy is a procedure when a doctor inserts a flexible tube with a lens and a light source, to look at the lining of the lower part of the gastrointestinal GI tract. Read more on Sydney Children's Hospitals Network website. Haemorrhoids are enlarged, congested veins just under the surface tissue of your rectum or anus. About 50 per cent of adults have had them by the time they turn The latest research on bowel cancer awareness shows Australians are largely unaware of bowel cancer risks.
Read more on Know Pathology Know Healthcare website. Colon bowel polyps are small growths of tissue from the wall of the large bowel or colon. Polyps usually don't cause symptoms, but are normally removed so they don't cause cancer. A digital rectal examination DRE is an important element of a clinical examination, performed by a doctor or nurse.
It is a direct examination of the rectum and nearby organs, including the anal canal, prostate and bladder. While it can be uncomfortable, a DRE is critical to identifying illnesses such as benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , prostatitis infection of the prostate , haemorrhoids, anal fissures, prostate cancer and anal and rectal cancers.
Read more on Better Health Channel website. A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure wherein the inside of the colon large bowel is examined for signs of bowel cancer or illness. It is performed using a flexible tube with a camera and light known as a colonoscope, which is inserted into the anus and guided through the colon. Read more on Ausmed Education website. Nausea and vomiting are not conditions themselves - rather, they are non-specific symptoms associated with a variety of conditions.
Nausea describes a feeling of unease in the stomach, chest or throat. Vomiting emesis is the physical act of forcibly ejecting stomach contents through the mouth. Diagnostic imaging is often not indicated in chronic abdominal pain. In particular, undifferentiated abdominal pain is rarely an indication for a CT scan.
Read more on Australian Prescriber website. Diarrhoea is when more than three loose, watery stools are passed within one day.
The stools passed by someone experiencing diarrhoea are between Type 5 and Type 7 on the Bristol Stool Chart. Diarrhoea may be either acute, lasting for up to two weeks, or chronic, lasting for over four weeks.
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