When to seek medical advice
Seek medical advice for any blood in stool. Seek emergency care if you notice:
- Large amounts of blood
- Lightheadedness
- Rapid heart rate
- Weakness
Find possible causes of blood in stool based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.
- Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
- Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
- UpToDate. //www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
- Zeiter D. Abdominal pain in children. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2017;64:525.
- Palmer J, et al. Abdominal pain mimics. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2016;34:409.
- Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2016. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
- Merck Manual Professional Version. //www.merckmanuals.com/professional. Accessed Oct. 30, 2017.
- AskMayoExpert. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017.
- Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 2, 2017.
- Zitelli BJ, et al., eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2017. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
- Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
- Muncie HL, et al. Dizziness: Approach to evaluation and management. American Family Physician. 2017;95:154.
- American College of Emergency Physicians. //www.acep.org. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. //www.fda.gov. Accessed Nov. 11, 2017.
- Schmitt BD. Fever. In: Pediatric Telephone Protocols: Office Version 15th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2015.
- Mannenbach MS (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
- Goyal DG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 14, 2017.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 28, 2017.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. //orthoinfo.aaos.org. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
- Petty RE, et al., eds. Textbook of Pediatric Rheumatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
- Elsevier Point of Care. //www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
- Kasper DL, et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. //accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Nov. 20, 2017.
- Wein AJ, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2016. //www.clinicalkey.com.. Accessed Dec. 2, 2017.
- National Eye Institute. //nei.nih.gov. Accessed Dec. 5, 2017.
- Wilkinson JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 8, 2017.
Advertisement
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Advertising & Sponsorship
- Policy
- Opportunities
- Ad Choices
.
Mayo Clinic Footer
Seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing fever, excessive weakness, vomiting, or seeing large amounts of blood in your stool.
What does a bloody stool look like?
- Red blood mixed with the stool
- Red blood covering the stool
- Black or tarry stool
- Dark blood mixed with the stool
If you stool is red or black, it might not be from blood. Certain foods may cause your stools to look red. These include cranberries, tomatoes, beets, or food that is dyed red. Other foods may cause your stools to look black. These include blueberries, dark leafy vegetables, or black licorice.
Common causes
Hemorrhoids
Blood vessels near the anus that become swollen, due to increased pressure, can bleed or prolapse. Typically, the amount of bleeding from hemorrhoids is small and may be a few drops that appear on toilet paper after passing a stool. Hemorrhoids can occur inside the anus or under the skin around the outside of the anus. The condition is very common, normally painless, and does not lead to cancer.
If bothersome enough, hemorrhoids can be removed by your doctor. Your doctor may first treat any underlying causes, such as constipation.
Anal fissures
Small tears in the lining of the anus, typically from constipation or diarrhea, can cause blood with stools. They are painful during and following bowel movements. If you have anal fissures, take measures to prevent constipation or diarrhea. Over-the-counter fiber supplements can help. Your doctor can prescribe additional options to treat an anal fissure that isn’t healing on its own.
What else could it be?
Your doctor can determine the exact cause of stools with blood. Underlying disorders and complications of this condition can be serious. If you’re concerned, always err on the safe side and see a doctor.
Pay attention to what the blood in your stool looks like.
- How much blood is there?
- How often does it occur?
- What color is the blood?
This will help your doctor zero in on the problem.
Blood in stools can come from any area of the gastrointestinal tract.
This includes
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Rectum
If the blood is red it typically means it came from the lower digestive tract or rectum. If the blood is darker or black, it typically means it came from the upper digestive tract. Whether or not the blood is mixed with the stools or covering it, can also help determine where it came from and what is causing it.
Additional causes of stools with blood include
- Peptic ulcers
- Gastritis
- Diverticular disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Colon polyps
- Intestinal infection
- Colon cancer
- Stomach cancer
Your doctor will need to do an evaluation to determine if any of these conditions are the underlying cause.
Tests to find the cause
If you are experiencing stools with blood, your doctor may perform one or more of these tests.
- Colonoscopy- A small device with a camera is inserted in your colon to look for abnormalities.
- Upper endoscopy-A small device with a camera is used to look inside the upper digestive tract.
- Stool culture- A sample of your stools is taken to look for abnormalities.
- Blood test- A sample of your blood is tested for a number of different potential issues.
- Capsule endoscopy- A tiny capsule, with a camera inside, is swallowed to take pictures of your digestive track.
All causes of bloody stools should be determined and monitored by your doctor.