What does it mean to find blood in the stool?
Bloody stools often indicate an injury or disorder in the digestive tract. Your doctor may use the term “melena” to describe black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools or “hematochezia” to describe red- or maroon-colored stools. Considerations- Blood in the stool may come from anywhere along your digestive tract, from mouth to anus. It may be present in such small amounts that you cannot actually see it, but is only detectable by a fecal occult blood test. When there IS enough blood to change the appearance of your stools, the doctor will want to know the exact color to help find the site of bleeding. To make a diagnosis, your doctor may use endoscopy or special x-ray studies. A black stool usually means that the blood is coming from the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This includes the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. Blood will typically look like tar after it has been exposed to the body’s digestive juices. Stomach ulcers caused by ibuprofen,
