Whenever blood is found in our stools, it represents a breakage in the inner lining somewhere along our digestive tract. Blood can be present in our stools without being detected if it is in a small amount (occult blood). On the other hand, our stool colour may change to tarry black, maroon or even fresh red depending on the location and the rate of bleeding.
Common reasons for blood to appear in our stools include colon infection, haemorrhoids, small tears in the rectal mucosa otherwise known as anal fissure and ulcers along the digestive tract. The other more concerning cause is bleeding due to cancers.
Although fresh bleeding in large amount automatically calls for immediate attention, any amount of blood found in our stools requires proper assessment. This is especially so in anyone above the age of 50 or having a family history of digestive cancers. The mistake of delaying or deferring an early evaluation may result in detecting cancers at a later stage which carries a much poorer overall prognosis.
- Dr Quan
