Bloody diarrhea. Causes and treatment of bloody diarrhea in adults

Diarrhea or diarrhea is one of the most common symptoms of bowel problems. It can occur in a person of any age as a result of poisoning, infection, overeating, gastrointestinal diseases, as well as against the background of emotional experiences. In some cases, diarrhea does not pose a health risk and its treatment consists only of diet and drinking regimen.

However, if, in parallel with the appearance of loose stools, a person’s temperature rises, vomiting or severe pain in the abdominal area occurs, then such conditions require medical attention. Bloody diarrhea is especially dangerous, as it is a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract. Timely identification of the cause of blood discharge in stool and initiation of treatment helps prevent the development of complications.

Causes of bloody diarrhea

When blood is detected in the stool, to determine the cause of this phenomenon, the color, consistency of the stool, the nature of the bloody impurities in it and the presence of accompanying symptoms are of great importance. Bleeding can occur in any part of the digestive tract, which is always accompanied by corresponding changes in stool.
The causes of diarrhea with blood in an adult can be:

  • ulcers of the stomach or various parts of the intestines;
  • dysbacteriosis;
  • Crohn's disease;
  • intestinal infections;
  • anal fissures and hemorrhoids;
  • inflammation of diverticula in the gastrointestinal tract;
  • malignant neoplasms, polyps.

Important: Blood in the stool appears as red traces only if the source of the bleeding is in the lower part of the large intestine near the anus. In other cases, diarrhea with blood is manifested by the staining of stools in a black color, corresponding to the color of the products of the breakdown and digestion of blood.

Bright red blood in stool

The most common reasons for the appearance of traces of fresh blood of bright red or scarlet color in the stool or on toilet paper during diarrhea are exacerbation of hemorrhoids, anal fissures or tumors in the rectum. With hemorrhoids and anal fissures, the act of defecation is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort, itching or even acute pain in the anus.

During an exacerbation of hemorrhoids, patients often find traces of blood in the stool at the end of a bowel movement, caused by injury to the inflamed hemorrhoids

Blood in stool

The presence of dark red or chestnut-colored clots in the stool during diarrhea indicates the presence of inflammatory processes in the large intestine. These include Crohn's disease, dysbiosis that developed while taking antibiotics or other factors, and ulcerative colitis.

Impurities of blood in the stool with a simultaneous increase in temperature, vomiting and profuse diarrhea are a symptom of an intestinal infection. In addition, mucus is also found in the stool, nausea and abdominal pain are present. When pathogenic bacteria or viruses enter the body through the mouth, the body tries to cleanse itself of them, as a result of which the number of bowel movements per day can reach twenty or more times. Common intestinal infectious diseases include salmonellosis, dysentery, eschirichiosis, shigellosis, rotavirus, adenovirus and enterovirus infections, etc.

Diarrhea mixed with blood in an adult is also sometimes observed in people suffering from intestinal diverticulosis. Most often, this disease occurs in sedentary people after 50 years of age, which is due to an age-related decrease in the elasticity of the intestinal walls. With a prolonged increase in pressure in the intestines as a result of constipation or other causes, protrusions (diverticula) form in them. When a diverticulum becomes inflamed, a person may experience diarrhea mixed with blood and blood, as well as increased gas formation.

Diverticula are small protrusions up to 1–2 cm in size in the intestinal wall

Black feces

Black liquid stool occurs in a person as a result of heavy bleeding in the esophagus, stomach or duodenum. The causes of its appearance may be cirrhosis of the liver, varicose veins of the esophagus, tumors and ulcers localized in the stomach and duodenum. In the case of an ulcer, bleeding occurs both during its initial formation and during exacerbation of an existing one. Another symptom of blood in the stomach or esophagus is bloody vomiting.

It occurs as a result of the interaction of blood components with hydrochloric acid contained in the stomach and digestive enzymes, while hematin hydrochloride is formed from hemoglobin - a pigment that has a black-brown color.

Important: In the initial stages of certain diseases (ulcers, tumors, polyps, etc.) of the gastrointestinal tract, blood in the stool is present in small quantities, so it is not possible to detect it visually. To identify it in this case, patients need to undergo a stool test for occult blood.

What to do if you have bloody diarrhea?

The appearance of red impurities in the stool or their coloring in black is not always a sign of pathology. Such changes may also be caused by taking certain foods or medications. For example, treatment with iron, bismuth or activated carbon preparations is accompanied by black stools. The same changes in the color of stool will be observed after eating blueberries, blueberries, black currants, and cherries. The appearance of red stool may be caused by the fact that the person the day before ate foods containing beets, cranberries, or food coloring.

In cases where diarrhea with blood is the result of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, first of all it is necessary to undergo an examination and tests to determine the cause of such changes in the functioning of the intestines. The following research methods can be used to clarify the diagnosis:

  • general blood and urine tests;
  • stool analysis;
  • sowing stool for the presence of infectious pathogens;
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
  • colonoscopy;
  • X-ray examination.

Treatment of diarrhea with blood begins with collecting anamnesis and examining the patient

The main task when choosing treatment tactics for diarrhea with blood impurities is to eliminate the causative factor, that is, the underlying disease that caused such symptoms. For an intestinal infection, the patient is prescribed antibacterial or antiviral therapy. For peptic ulcer disease, conservative treatment is carried out, which consists of strictly following a diet and taking medications to stop bleeding and scarring of the ulcer. If the cause of bleeding is neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract, then in most cases their elimination is carried out surgically. Often, for diarrhea, enterosorbents and drugs are prescribed that have an enveloping effect on the intestinal mucosa and promote its speedy healing.

Regardless of the cause, an important point in the treatment of bloody diarrhea is to follow a diet and restore the water-electrolyte balance, disturbed as a result of the body losing a large amount of water along with liquid feces. To do this, after the first loose stool, it is recommended to frequently drink non-carbonated mineral water or special glucose-salt solutions sold in pharmacies (Regidron, Laktosol, Gastrolit, etc.).

Important: If diarrhea with blood appears, depending on the severity of the person’s condition, you must go to the doctor yourself or call an ambulance. Self-medication or inaction is fraught with deterioration of the condition and the development of complications.

Diarrhea with blood in an adult, the causes of which are varied, indicates a possibly serious illness. The appearance of bloody traces in the stool is a reason to immediately visit a doctor. The disease is often accompanied by fever, mucus production and lethargy of the body. There is no way to cope with this condition without the help of doctors. When loose stools with blood continue for a long period and are accompanied by pain, in this case the cause can only be determined by examining stool for the presence of bacteria.

So, people call it diarrhea, which is the most common intestinal disease. The disease affects people of all ages. People have learned to cope with the usual manifestations of diarrhea on their own, using the means provided by Mother Nature.

In a normal state, the fecal mass that a person excretes ranges from 100 to 300 grams. per day. With increased intestinal motility, fecal excretion may become more frequent and thinner, but the amount released does not change. If the amount of liquid substances in the stool reaches a level of 60 - 90%, then this is diarrhea. There may be liquid stool for a couple of days more than 4 times a day. Short-term stomach upset does not cause any particular harm to health. But copious amounts of loose stool can lead to serious problems.

Loose stools are a sign that a serious pathology is developing in the body. But the doctor must make such a conclusion after conducting an examination and studying the test results.

You should not hesitate to visit a doctor, since during the period of frequent manifestations of diarrhea, a lot of fluid is removed from the body, which may result in the following problem - dehydration.

If the blood on the toilet paper is scarlet, then most likely there are wounds or hemorrhoids on the anus. This means she doesn’t have enough time to curl up, since the wounds are not deep in the intestines, but very close to the anus. Under such circumstances, a person experiences discomfort and tingling during bowel movements. Neither hemorrhoids nor other anal damage are associated with diarrhea.

The following are possible causes of diarrhea:
  • If the blood from the anus is dark in color, then this fact indicates the presence of serious pathologies, for example, cirrhosis of the liver or cancer problems in the digestive tract. Internal blood loss often occurs when the esophagus is damaged, as well as damage to the stomach or intestines, or damage to the duodenum.
  • Bleeding from the anus can be caused by ulcers in the human digestive system. The danger is that if the infection gets directly onto the mucous tissue, then this infection will begin the development of the inflammatory process.
  • With Crohn's disease, dysbiosis, ulcerative colitis, bloody diarrhea is possible.
  • An inflammatory bowel disease called diverticulitis also causes bleeding. This pathology occurs in people aged 40–50 years.
  • Very unpleasant diseases are dysentery, as well as escherichiosis and acute gastroenteritis, and often recurring intestinal diseases. With these pathologies, there is also a high temperature and blood in the stool.

It is not always possible to explain diarrhea with blood in an adult, the causes of which are often known. There are more dangerous, but less common causes of other pathologies, such as, for example, black stool, a sharp decrease in blood pressure and other problems. But these pathologies can only be identified by undergoing a course of examination.

What to do in such situations? Contact your doctor immediately. The specialist will find out why this pathology appeared and select the necessary medications.

Bloody diarrhea accompanied by mucus usually appears when:

  • ulcerative colitis;
  • dysbacteriosis;
  • tumor formations in the intestines;
  • syphilis;
  • eating disorders;
  • tuberculosis;
  • hormonal imbalances;
  • problems with the pancreas;
  • infections;
  • allergic manifestations, etc.

If diarrhea with mucus and even bloody traces appears, you should immediately contact a medical facility for help. In these cases, it is necessary to do a full examination in order to find out the cause.

Of course, initially you need to adjust your diet.

Under such circumstances, it is necessary to exclude from use:
  • fatty foods;
  • spicy dishes;
  • Drastically reduce your intake of sugary treats.
Quite often the cause of indigestion can be:
  • products whose shelf life has expired;
  • low-quality, moldy products;
  • not fresh food.

From the very beginning of the appearance of liquid bowel movements, a slight abstinence from eating is recommended, which will clearly benefit the patient. And only after stool normalization, they begin to eat food, but in small doses. Moreover, at first it is better to eat porridge.

When you have an upset stomach, a large amount of fluid is excreted from your body in your stool. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the loss of fluid and electrolytes in order to correct the already disturbed balance, it is recommended to take carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks. They are sold over the counter or you can make your own.

For this purpose you will need:
  1. A liter of boiled water, preferably warm.
  2. You will need 4 tablespoons of sugar.
  3. Salt - one tablespoon.

You need to drink at least a liter of this drink per day.

During the treatment process, it is recommended to take astringents and adsorbents, and, of course, prebiotics. That is, activated carbon is used as an adsorbent. Astringents are auxiliary drugs. Diarrhea with blood and mucus causes disruption of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, so probiotics and prebiotics are used to restore it.

To prevent the development of the disease, it is better to immediately consult a doctor. Because the body does not allow failures in the functioning of the entire organ system without special reasons.

Do not forget that it is simpler and easier to eliminate problems at the initial stage than to treat an advanced condition. There are not many reasons for the appearance of loose, bloody stools with mucus in an adult.

Bloody diarrhea in an adult may be accompanied by fever:

  1. Most often, a high temperature during disorders indicates poisoning. This condition usually appears after an hour, and sometimes even after 12 hours, of eating stale food. Usually with poisoning there is also vomiting. In such cases, emergency medical care is required.
  2. An increase in temperature to 38 0 C or higher with diarrhea may be associated with an inflammatory process in the pancreas, which occurs due to diets, poor nutrition, overeating, and poor quality foods. It is better to seek help without delay, because the entire digestive system is exposed to viral infection, in addition, vomiting, sore throat, and sometimes a runny nose appear.
  3. Bloody diarrhea in an adult, accompanied by a high fever, may be a sign of bacterial infections such as staphylococcus and dysentery or salmonellosis. The temperature will rise to 40 0 ​​C, and it is quite difficult to reduce it. During a bacterial infection, frequent bowel movements are accompanied by a greenish tint with blood streaks. The sooner treatment for such a problem begins, the faster the normal rhythm of life will improve.

Bloody diarrhea after antibiotics is the most common problem. This condition is diagnosed in 30% of patients.

Diarrhea after taking antibiotics develops:
  • in mild form;
  • in heavy

In both forms, there is a disturbance of the microflora in the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract). And further development may well provoke the development of severe pathology. Treatment for diarrhea after taking antibiotics is carried out under the close supervision of a doctor, since a mild form of the disease tends to become a severe form. Therefore, it is not recommended to take antibiotics on your own. Such uncontrolled, and sometimes unjustified, use of them leads to a mild and sometimes severe form of the disorder.

The use of antibiotics should not be taken lightly. Not all diseases can be treated with antibiotics. Therefore, before taking such drugs, you need to carefully study the possibilities of a more gentle treatment process.

After taking antibiotics, the following occurs:
  • increased intestinal motility;
  • disruption of the microflora, that is, along with the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms, beneficial microorganisms are also destroyed.

In addition, such therapy may well provoke a severe intestinal infection.

Antibiotics, entering the gastrointestinal tract, provoke the proliferation of bacteria - clostridium deficile. These bacteria do not respond to antibacterial agents. They usually settle in the large intestine. They can provoke an inflammatory process in the intestines.

The risk of this infection increases if:
  • the patient takes several antibacterial agents;
  • there is a long course of treatment;
  • chronic disease of internal organs is observed, especially in people over 65 years of age.

It should be noted that in patients treated in hospitals, intestinal inflammation is observed much more often than in patients undergoing outpatient treatment. In such difficult cases, diarrhea streaked with blood can bother you 20 times a day.

In addition to blood with diarrhea, pus may be present in the stool. The patient's condition worsens with the appearance of fever and vomiting. If urgent measures are not taken, in addition to general weakness, dehydration and intoxication will appear.

The main thing is to drink more water during the onset of the disease in order to prevent dehydration:
  • It is advisable to drink plain, non-carbonated water.
  • It is useful to drink tea that is strong, but not sweet.

You should not drink alcohol. It is better not to engage in treatment on your own.

Diarrhea, or, as people say, diarrhea, is a condition of the body in which frequent bowel movements are observed (more than three times a day), accompanied by watery stools, abdominal pain, and anal incontinence. Sometimes with diarrhea there is blood in the stool. There can be many reasons for bloody diarrhea in an adult. Diarrhea itself is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of other serious illnesses.

Important! If purulent formations, blood, mucus or other discharge are observed during bowel movements, it is not recommended to engage in self-treatment.

Causes of bloody diarrhea

Let's take a closer look at why this phenomenon may occur.

If there is red blood on the surface of the stool, then there are probably small wounds or hemorrhoids on the anus. Due to the fact that the damage is not located in the deep parts of the intestine, but on the surface of the anus, the blood will not have time to clot and will be scarlet in color.

In this case, with diarrhea, a person experiences unpleasant sensations during bowel movements, tingling. Hemorrhoids or other damage to the anus are not the result of diarrhea, but are formed for other reasons.

  1. Dark blood color indicates the presence of more serious diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver or cancer of the digestive tract. Internal bleeding may result from damage to the esophagus, stomach, intestines, or duodenum.
  2. Rectal bleeding can cause ulcerative formations in the digestive tract. This is dangerous because when an infection gets into the thickness of the mucosa, an inflammatory process can begin.
  3. Blood formations in feces can appear during Crohn's disease, dysbacteriosis and ulcerative colitis.
  4. One cause of rectal bleeding is diverticulitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. However, diarrhea with this disease mainly appears at the age of 40-50 years.
  5. Dysentery, escherichiosis, acute gastroenteritis and other intestinal diseases, which are usually accompanied by fever, can also cause the formation of blood in the stool.

Treatment of the disease

When treating bloody diarrhea, the main goal is not just to stop bowel movements, but also to eliminate the source of the diarrhea.

How to treat diarrhea with blood? Not a single doctor will immediately answer this question or prescribe the correct treatment without making a diagnosis, since the causes of diarrhea with blood, as mentioned above, are many, they are varied and require their own methods of treatment.

During the examination, the patient undergoes urine, stool, and blood tests, undergoes an abdominal cavity check using ultrasound radiation, and examines the rectum.

If ulcerative formations are detected in a patient, medications and special nutrition will be prescribed that promote scarring of the ulcer. If infectious diseases are present, the patient will be prescribed antibacterial drugs. If tumors are present, surgical intervention may be required.

Which doctor should I contact?

If you have bloody diarrhea, you should consult a general practitioner, such as a general practitioner, or a family doctor, who will assess the severity of the disease and examine the patient. Depending on the test results, the therapist refers the patient to a gastroenterologist or infectious disease specialist.

The task of a gastroenterologist is to diagnose, prevent and treat diseases of the digestive system. If necessary, a gastroenterologist will help you create the right diet in order to monitor how stool depends on nutrition.

If the cause of diarrhea is an infection, you will need to consult an infectious disease specialist who, after additional tests, will provide appropriate treatment.

Treatment at home

It also happens that it is not possible to immediately consult a doctor for medical help. What to do in such a situation?

To prevent a person from becoming dehydrated during diarrhea, you need to drink plenty of fluids; preference is best given to still mineral water or strong tea without sugar. During diarrhea, you should avoid drinking sweet carbonated water or alcohol.

If diarrhea with blood is the result of poisoning with spoiled food, then you need to cleanse the stomach with sorbent substances (activated carbon, sorbex, atoxil, etc.), which remove harmful substances and toxins from the body.

Herbs

You can also get rid of bloody diarrhea by resorting to folk remedies. A decoction of burnet brings good results. To do this, put the rhizomes of this plant in a liter jar, fill it to the top with boiling water and let the product brew for about half an hour, then drink the broth as much as you can and fill it with water again. Used burnet rhizomes can be brewed several more times.

Young wormwood also helps with diarrhea with bloody discharge. Wash a branch of a fresh plant, chew it, swallow the juice, and spit out the grass. This product brings a significant effect.

Treatment with carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions

Since diarrhea causes dehydration in the body, the lack of fluids and electrolytes should be replenished. To do this, it is recommended to use carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, or you can prepare it yourself. To prepare this medicine you will need:

  • 1 liter of boiled warm water;
  • 1 tbsp. l. salt;
  • 4 tbsp. l. Sahara.

You need to drink at least 1 liter per day of this solution.

Important! For prolonged diarrhea with bloody discharge, if folk remedies and self-treatment do not help, you should contact the clinic.

Diarrhea with blood during pregnancy

At the beginning of pregnancy, diarrhea is the result of hormonal changes in a woman’s body, so there is no need to worry about this. Diarrhea does not pose any threat even at the last stage of pregnancy, since the body is cleansed before childbirth.

However, the presence of blood in stool should alert a woman. Intoxication in a woman can harm the embryo. Along with this, with prolonged diarrhea, the body is subject to severe dehydration, leading to a deficiency of nutrients in the body. It is not uncommon for dehydration to lead to miscarriage or the formation of defects in the unborn child. Therefore, with prolonged diarrhea, immediate consultation with a specialist is necessary.

After antibiotics

When using antibacterial drugs (antibiotics), both harmful and beneficial microorganisms are destroyed in the human body. As a result, the intestinal microflora may be disrupted, leading to diarrhea, which can develop in various forms of severity.

After consuming antibiotics, the bacteria Clostridium difficile, which is not susceptible to antibiotics, multiply intensively in the body, which leads to inflammation in the intestines. At the same time, there is blood in the stool, diarrhea may be accompanied by weakness, vomiting, and fever.

Therefore, it is worth monitoring the use of antibacterial drugs, since many diseases can be treated without their use.

After drinking alcohol

As you know, ethanol is an important component of any alcoholic drink. By its nature, the human body is not adapted to drinking ethyl alcohol. Therefore, the first use of alcohol often ends in vomiting or diarrhea. And only over time the human body partially adapts to ethyl alcohol. However, this does not protect the body from harmful influences.

Ethyl alcohol is a kind of antiseptic that, when it enters the human body, destroys not only harmful but also benign microorganisms, disrupting the intestinal microflora, which can lead to diarrhea or vomiting.

After drinking beer, diarrhea may occur, since it contains a large number of flavors, dyes, concentrates and other chemical additives that help extend the shelf life of beer. Of course, there is beer that does not contain such chemical compounds, but it is more expensive and has a shorter shelf life.

Frequent alcohol consumption leads to damage to blood capillaries. This may cause vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Attention! Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages can lead to a disease such as alcoholic gastritis, which in turn, if not treated promptly, leads to stomach ulcers and cirrhosis of the liver.

To get rid of diarrhea after drinking alcohol, include boiled eggs, strong tea without sugar, and rice porridge in your diet. If diarrhea does not go away within two days, you should consult a doctor.

Features of the disease

Changes in the color of stool during diarrhea occur for various reasons. Some of them are completely natural and do not cause any harm to humans.

A green tint to stool may appear as a result of eating foods with added dyes. This color may appear after eating a large amount of greens.

However, the green color of diarrhea also sometimes indicates the presence of more serious illnesses, especially with bloody discharge. This may indicate the presence of dysentery and other infectious diseases.

Increased hemoglobin or impaired metabolism can also cause the presence of this color during diarrhea, which may be accompanied by nausea and a feeling of weakness in the body.

Bloody diarrhea and vomiting are not always the cause of diseases of the digestive and intestinal tract. This diarrhea often occurs as a result of food poisoning.

If the body temperature exceeds 38C, then the cause is probably an infectious disease. Here is a list of infections that are accompanied by diarrhea:

  • rotavirus infection;
  • enterovirus infection;
  • adenovirus infection.

Diarrhea lasts no more than 3-4 days, then the condition stabilizes, but if a person’s immunity is weakened, stool disturbances can last more than a week. In this case, the help of a doctor is required, as severe dehydration occurs.

Important! If diarrhea with vomiting is accompanied by a runny nose and cough, then the cause is a viral disease.

Diarrhea with blood and mucus

The cause of diarrhea with blood and mucus can be tumors in the intestines, tuberculosis, syphilis, ulcerative colitis and other diseases.

If diarrhea occurs in this manner, you should immediately go to the hospital and undergo examination. The presence of mucous discharge may indicate damage to the intestinal lining and requires hospitalization.

To prevent complications, you should stop eating sweet, fatty and spicy foods. In case of poisoning from spoiled foods, it is recommended not to eat anything for the first day until the stool becomes normal.

Important! Mucus in stool may also indicate the presence of benign formations in the human intestines.

In conclusion, I would like to note that the presence of blood in feces can cause serious diseases of the digestive and intestinal tract. Therefore, you should not self-medicate for a long time, but go to the hospital to get examined and identify the source of the disease.

Such a phenomenon as bloody diarrhea in humans is unpleasant. Blood from the anus during bowel movements may indicate the development of serious diseases. The attending physician will tell you what to do in a given situation. Therefore, if you have bloody diarrhea, first seek help.

Possible reasons

It is strongly not recommended to independently diagnose and treat when blood comes out of the anus. Without special examinations and tests, it is difficult to make a diagnosis in adults. The main thing is that during bloody diarrhea you do not try to use untested methods.

Almost every person has diarrhea. This protective reaction occurs in people to dangerous substances, microorganisms, food and drinks. Therefore, when poisoned, we often suffer from diarrhea.

Diarrhea is also possible due to hemorrhoids, after alcohol, or severe alcohol intoxication. Very often, it is alcohol that causes diarrhea. So first, try to give up your favorite alcoholic drink in excessive doses, don’t smoke and don’t get nervous.

Attacks of nausea, vomiting and loose stools can be the result of stress, various infections, inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, or consumption of foods with a laxative effect. Some people are allergic to certain foods and experience diarrhea after accidentally eating them.

But there are more unpleasant situations when bloody diarrhea and vomiting are provoked by serious infectious diseases, stomach ulcers, cancer, etc. What to do? If you notice blood from the anus, the first step is to consult a specialist. He will order the necessary tests, examine bloody diarrhea to determine the causes of its occurrence and, based on the results, prescribe appropriate treatment. In no case should you wait until loose stools with blood gradually pass on their own.

Let us consider separately several situations when diarrhea with blood in an adult has its own characteristics. They can potentially indicate certain diseases in a person, the treatment of which should be exclusively professional. During treatment, it is recommended to strictly adhere to the rules established by the doctor.

Bloody diarrhea and mucus

If a man or woman has diarrhea with blood and mucus coming out of their anus, then that mucus in the stool may actually indicate several possible medical conditions.

An admixture of mucus potentially indicates colitis, hormonal imbalance, an allergic reaction, as well as tuberculosis and even syphilis.

If, in addition to blood, mucous masses appear along with bloody clots during diarrhea, you should immediately consult a good, trusted doctor. First, a stool examination will be performed, after which treatment will be prescribed.

When diarrhea with blood and mucus is not caused by infections, then you will need to adjust your diet, eliminate everything fatty and spicy from your diet, and minimize sweet foods. On the first day of bloody diarrhea in an adult, the doctor will recommend fasting. This will stop bowel movements.

Blood masses and vomiting

Sometimes bloody discharge in loose stools appears simultaneously with bouts of vomiting. When diarrhea with blood in an adult, the causes of nausea are not always hidden in the gastrointestinal tract, contrary to popular belief.

The first “suspect” is infection and food poisoning. Disturbances in the functioning of the digestive tract and even the nervous system cannot be ruled out.

If at the same time your temperature rises to about 38 degrees and chills appear, then most likely you have inflammation or a potentially dangerous infection.

When a person’s temperature is above this level, rotavirus is suspected. In this case, diarrhea streaked with blood rarely appears; the main symptoms are nausea, vomiting and high fever. Vomiting and bloody diarrhea in humans can be caused by colitis, gastritis and viral diseases. In the latter case, the symptoms are often supplemented by a cough and runny nose.

Bloody stools with vomiting may indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Most often these are ulcers, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, etc. In addition to the release of blood with feces, the patient is bothered by sour belching and a bitter taste in the mouth, accompanied by the urge to vomit. Vomiting blood may indicate a bleeding stomach ulcer.

Diarrhea and blood streaks

Often, feces with blood come out in the form of bloody streaks. Such defecation indicates that the patient has serious suspicions of inflammation in the intestines.

When bacteria or dangerous viruses penetrate the intestines, the vascular walls crack. They are located close to the internal surfaces, so the blood coagulates and feces with blood come out in the form of streaks.

Green-colored stool

Green diarrhea with blood is also not so rare in people. Treatment for the presence of green stool directly depends on the reasons for its appearance. Some factors are completely safe. But there are some that pose a potential threat to human health.

Greenish bloody diarrhea can potentially be caused by:

  • dangerous intestinal infections,
  • microflora disturbance,
  • reduced immunity,
  • antibiotics,
  • dysentery,
  • metabolic disorder,
  • high level of hemoglobin,
  • disruption of the digestive process.

In addition to the loose stool itself, a person’s stomach hurts, he feels nauseous, he feels weak, and his temperature rises. In this case, it is necessary to do a stool analysis, identify the causes of the change in the color of the stool and undergo a course of treatment prescribed by a specialist.

Scarlet impurities in feces

A person also experiences scarlet blood during loose stools. Unfortunately, the scarlet color of blood impurities is a potentially very dangerous symptom, since it occurs in serious pathologies:

  • the presence of scarlet blood indicates bleeding inside the digestive system (lower section),
  • indicates erosion or injury to blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract.

At the same time, the patient experiences abdominal pain, constant weakness, vomiting and frequent dizziness.

Consequences of taking antibiotics

Diarrhea with blood after antibiotics is found in a fairly large number of people. About 30% of cases of taking antibiotics lead to digestive disorders.

Although the medications themselves are designed to treat diseases, they have a number of side effects. They disrupt the microflora and intestinal function, provoke the development of other diseases if treated incorrectly, exceed the dosage, or choose an antibiotic on your own without consulting a doctor.

As a result, blood forms in the stool. The consequences of antibiotics may be the urge to defecate 10–20 times during the day. In addition to blood and liquid feces, in some cases pus comes out. This indicates the neglect of the situation, which requires mandatory surgical intervention by a doctor.

Alcohol and loose stools

Many people suffer from diarrhea after drinking alcohol. In some cases, loose bowel movements after drinking alcohol should not be a serious concern. When a person drinks alcohol, they enter the mucous membrane of his stomach, killing microorganisms (beneficial and harmful), which disrupts the entire process of normal digestion. In a person, after drinking alcohol, attacks of diarrhea may be replaced by constipation.

If you find blood on toilet paper after drinking alcohol in significant quantities, as well as with frequent alcohol abuse, we strongly advise you to stop drinking and undergo an appropriate examination. The presence of bloody impurities can usually indicate disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, as well as the liver. Severe liver damage occurs in people who frequently drink alcohol. In addition to diarrhea itself, there is a high temperature (up to 39 degrees), vomiting and pain in the abdomen.

If you constantly have diarrhea after drinking alcohol, this is not normal. It is imperative to consult a specialist and undergo a comprehensive examination. The fact is that such phenomena can be associated with the gradual development of quite severe diseases. To determine them, you need to visit a gastroenterologist.

A red mark on toilet paper is a reason to consult a doctor. This is a signal of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. In combination with loose stools, it is a symptom of certain diseases. A doctor should judge the causes of bloody diarrhea in an adult. You can independently study the factors that most often cause this condition. Complete information about the condition of bloody diarrhea will allow the doctor to speed up the final diagnosis.

Emergency conditions

What to do if bloody diarrhea appears depends on additional symptoms. Do not delay calling an ambulance if severe diarrhea is accompanied by the factors described below.

Loose stools with blood against a background of elevated body temperature

A high temperature is a potential sign of a bacterial infection in the body. For example, the proliferation of microbes in places where food gets stuck in the intestines. This pathological condition is called diverticulitis. This acute status requires hospitalization and requires the use of antibiotics, which must be prescribed by a doctor.

Black stool due to diarrhea

Black diarrhea is not necessarily dangerous. Do not call emergency services if you have eaten beets, black grapes, or certain medications. For example, iron supplements and activated carbon. In these cases, a coloring effect is possible. The stool takes on a dark hue, even black.

However, if these foods are not included in the diet, the stool may become dark in color due to bleeding in the upper intestines. Exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease, cirrhosis of the liver, the appearance of neoplasms - this is an incomplete list of possible culprits. You cannot postpone a visit to the doctor if there is a threat of such serious diseases.

Severe pain with diarrhea

Rule out food poisoning. If your stomach hurts and you suffer from diarrhea mixed with blood without a direct connection with the stale food you consumed, you need a doctor’s help immediately. This condition can be caused by an infection, an aggravated ulcer, colitis, or tumors in the upper intestines or stomach.

Abdominal pain with diarrhea cannot be ignored, nor can painkillers be used. A timely diagnosis increases the chance of a speedy recovery.

Possible causes of blood and mucus in the stool

If there is no reason to immediately call an ambulance, schedule a consultation with a specialist as soon as possible. Your doctor will be more likely to determine the cause of blood in loose stools if you describe in detail the data, including:

  • family history;
  • diet;
  • recent travel;
  • use of medications (especially antibiotics);
  • previous operations;
  • weight loss or gain;

Predisposition to intestinal ulcers, the development of malignant tumors, and autoimmune diseases is genetically determined. Passed on from parents to children. Tell your doctor about such diseases in your relatives. Tell them if your loved ones have recently experienced diarrhea, even if a specific diagnosis has not been identified.

From travel, in addition to impressions, with an unfortunate turn of fate, they also bring infections. In developing countries, diseases accompanied by bloody diarrhea and nausea are the leading causes of death in children. Adults are also susceptible to life-threatening bacteria. The World Health Organization provides data that intestinal infections claim two million lives on Earth every year.

Diarrhea with blood shortly after returning from abroad is a possible indication of the emergence of internal bacterial processes. Depending on the country you come from, you may need to have your blood tested for antibodies to specific bacteria and viruses. A stool test is required. The attending physician will advise you in detail.

Taking antibiotics increases the risk of developing dysbiosis. It can cause bowel problems, including diarrhea with small bloody streaks. This intestinal dysfunction is determined by examining feces.

Weight loss is a signal of problems in the body. Of course, if there is no connection with physical activity and diets. A reduction in body weight accompanied by frequent bloody diarrhea is a compelling argument in favor of a full examination. Advanced tumors and Crohn's disease can be serious causes of unpleasant symptoms.

Crohn's disease is an autoimmune pathology. The body's own defense cells, for unknown reasons, attack intestinal tissue. This chronic condition is accompanied by inhibition of reactions and speech. Sufferers of Crohn's disease have a slender physique. Diarrhea occurs regularly, and during exacerbation it is colored with blood.

Blood in stool is scarlet or dark

What kind of blood is found during bowel movements - fresh scarlet or dark - matters when looking for causes. The shade tells you which area of ​​the gastrointestinal tract the blood came from.

A dark or black color indicates that you need to look for problems in the upper intestines or stomach. The blood is exposed to enzymes and comes out with a clotted consistency. Sometimes such bleeding can only be detected through tests.

Scarlet fresh blood in loose stool gives reason to suspect problems in the colon or anus.

The appearance of bright blood on the surface of stool is associated with hemorrhoids or anal fissures. They are common in adults of both sexes. Both conditions involve discomfort during bowel movements. Possible itching and burning in the anus. When passing hard feces, intense pain is felt at the site of the mucosal defect. With diarrhea, the pain is less pronounced. Vomiting and nausea in this case should not accompany loose stools.

Chronic diarrhea or one-time severe diarrhea

It is important to record cases of loose stool mixed with blood. It's easy to blame periodic bouts of diarrhea on poor quality food or a weak stomach. So people live for years with dysbiosis or Crohn's disease without receiving treatment. The body weakens, and it becomes more difficult to overcome the disease with each missed month.

If bloody diarrhea takes you by surprise and there have been no similar incidents over the past three months, it may be simple food poisoning. Frequent urge to defecate and liquid stool consistency do not last long. In this case, mucus and blood in the stool should completely disappear after a maximum of three days.

You should consult a doctor to rule out severe intoxication and dehydration. Your doctor will prescribe dietary supplements and probiotics. They will ease the symptoms.

If cases of bloody diarrhea are familiar to you, you cannot do without a comprehensive diagnosis.

So, depending on additional symptoms and circumstances, diarrhea with blood in an adult can be caused by diseases such as:

  • malignant tumors;
  • bacterial and viral infections (salmonellosis, dysentery, etc.);
  • diverticulitis;
  • haemorrhoids;
  • anal fissures;
  • stomach and duodenal ulcers;
  • Crohn's disease;
  • dysbacteriosis;
  • intoxication due to food or alcohol poisoning.

Treatment of bloody diarrhea

It is important that the appearance of blood in the stool is not a disease in itself. This is a serious symptom, the elimination of which does not solve the problem. What causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract will be determined by a specialized doctor. Therefore, the first thing you need to do when you see blood and mucus while going to the toilet is to decide on medical help.

If the condition is considered urgent, you should call an ambulance. Otherwise, schedule a visit to a gastroenterologist.

Any sick person has access to methods to alleviate the general condition of diarrhea.

Fighting dehydration

Diarrhea causes critical fluid loss. Dehydration potentially entails disruption of the body's systems. In this case, the necessary salts are lost. Restoring the water-salt balance is the first stage of self-help at the first signs of loose stools.

To do this, you can use pharmaceuticals, for example Regidron. Another option is to prepare the solution yourself. Dissolve a teaspoon of table salt in a liter of clean warm water and take orally.

It is difficult to drink too much when you have diarrhea. Make a choice in favor of berry infusions or clean water. Drinking sweet carbonated water, tea or coffee will cause a diuretic effect, aggravating the pathological condition.

Reception of sorbents

Intestinal sorbents prevent the absorption of poisons from the intestines. Helps remove dangerous toxic substances from the body. These drugs are safe and help both children and adults restore stool during diarrhea.

The drugs are sold in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription, for example, enterosgel, smecta, polyphepan. Activated carbon will cope with the task just as well, the main thing is to correctly calculate the dosage.

However, sorbents cannot influence the causes of blood in loose stools and are used only as self-help measures before visiting a doctor.

Using Probiotics

The preparations Linex, Bifiform, Acipol contain bacteria necessary for normal intestinal function. They help correct the balance of intestinal flora. Loose stools while taking antibiotics are normalized by long-term use of these supplements.

Important! The described treatment methods work in the fight against diarrhea, but are not sufficient when blood and mucus are detected in the stool.

A medical examination will allow you to exclude serious diseases and begin therapy in a timely manner.