Diagnose-Me: About Red Blood In Stools


	Question Category: SYMPTOMS - BOWEL MOVEMENTS

In the 'Symptoms - Bowel Movements' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about red blood in stools:

Do you see red blood in your stools?

	Your answer	...indicates	...and suggests
1.	"Never / don't know"
2.	"Occasionally / small amount on tissue only"	Red blood in stools	A symptom
3.	"Occasionally / small amount on tissue and stool"	Red blood in stools	A symptom
4.	"Very often recently"	Frequent red blood in stools	A symptom
5.	"A significant amount for some time now"	Significant red blood in stools	A symptom

Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below. Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.

Answers					Condition	Comment
			4	5	A Potentially Urgent Medical Need	Significant bleeding from anywhere in the body requires immediate medical attention. Small amounts of red blood, especially on the toilet tissue, are most likely from hemorrhoids.
			4	5	Anemia (Iron deficiency)	--
	2	3	4	5	Colon Cancer	In general, you should see a specialist if you are over 40 and have the following symptoms: A change in normal bowel habits towards looser and/or more frequent stools that has lasted for over 6 weeks Any bleeding from the rectum.
			4	5	Crohn's Disease	--
	2	3	4	5	Endometriosis	(Women only)
			4	5	Gastric/Peptic/Duodenal Ulcers	Rapid bleeding can cause bowel movements to become black or even bloody.
	2	3	4	5	Gastrointestinal Bleeding	Passing visible blood from the rectum (hematochezia) may indicate bleeding in the lower intestines.
	2	3	4	5	Hemorrhoids	--
			4	5	Ulcerative Colitis	Ulcerative colitis can cause bloody, watery or mucousy bowel movements which may consist only of blood and pus.

GLOSSARY

Hemorrhoids
Varicose disorder causing painful swellings at the anus; piles.

Pus
White cells that the body sends to fight an infection.

Ulcerative Colitis (Colitis Ulcerosa)
Ulceration of the colon and rectum, usually long-term and characterized by rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, frequent urgent diarrhea/bowel movements each day, abdominal pain.

Last updated: May 10, 2007