Bloody diarrhea

Diarrhea with blood may indicate a serious pathology, so blood in the stool should alert you and become a reason for urgent medical attention. If the condition with diarrhea is complicated by fever, weakness, then medical help is required immediately.

Diarrhea, or diarrhea as doctors call it, can occur at any age and is the most common intestinal disorder, especially in the summer. On average, diarrhea lasts for several days (from 4 liquid bowel movements per day).

Short-term mild diarrhea has little effect on the general condition of the body, but prolonged and abundant bowel movements lead to severe exhaustion of the body, hypovitaminosis. To determine the cause of such a disorder, a stool test for bacteria, etc. is prescribed. X-ray examination or the rate of movement of activated carbon through the intestines allows us to judge the severity of the condition (if after taking the carbon, black coloring of the feces is observed after 2-5 hours, then urgent measures are required). Also tell about the severity of the condition barium sulfate or.

If the doctor suspects infections such as cholera, salmonellosis, or food poisoning, then patients are immediately hospitalized.

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Causes of bloody diarrhea

Often diarrhea develops as a protective reaction of the body to toxic substances, pathogenic microorganisms, spoiled drinks or food products. In addition, stress, infections, inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, lactose intolerance, vegetables or fruits with a laxative effect, excessive smoking or alcohol consumption, food allergies, enzyme deficiency can also provoke diarrhea.

Bloody diarrhea may indicate internal hemorrhoids. In addition to blood clots in the stool, this disease is accompanied by burning and pain in the anus, especially during bowel movements.

Profuse diarrhea with blood impurities can be caused by an infectious disease, such as dysentery, enteritis, salmonellosis, etc. In the case of infection, 20 or more bowel movements occur per day, mucus can also be found in the feces, the condition is aggravated by fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.

Bright red streaks in the stool may indicate nonspecific ulcerative colitis or dysbacteriosis.

If the color of the stool changes to a darker color, with blood clots, this indicates problems in the upper intestines (stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer, tumors).

Bloody diarrhea may occur when a tumor develops in the rectum.

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Diarrhea with blood and mucus

Diarrhea with blood and mucus can occur as a result of ulcerative colitis, intestinal tumors, syphilis, tuberculosis, hormonal imbalances, infections, allergic reactions, etc.

If you have diarrhea with mucus and blood, you should immediately seek medical help to undergo a full examination. If the cause is not an infection, then first of all you need to pay attention to your diet: exclude fatty, spicy foods, reduce the consumption of sweets.

If the cause of diarrhea is poor quality or expired food, then it is recommended to fast for the first day. After the stool is normalized, you can start eating small portions, in the first days you should give preference to porridge, gradually moving to a normal diet.

With diarrhea, the body quickly loses fluid, so when you are sick, it is necessary to replenish the loss of electrolytes and fluid. As a rule, carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions are prescribed to correct the disturbed balance.

Such solutions are sold ready-made without a prescription or you can make them yourself (4 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of boiled warm water). You need to drink 1 liter of the solution per day.

In case of diarrhea, astringent and adsorbent drugs and prebiotics are prescribed.

Activated carbon is a well-known adsorbent. Astringent and intestinal coating preparations are used as an auxiliary treatment.

Also, on the first day of diarrhea, you should fast, which will help stop diarrhea with blood and mucus.

Diarrhea always disrupts the intestinal microflora, which can be restored with the help of probiotic and prebiotic preparations.

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Diarrhea and vomiting with blood

Bloody diarrhea and vomiting can indicate various diseases, and they are not always related to the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea and vomiting are often accompanied by a number of other symptoms.

When vomiting and diarrhea occur, the first thing to suspect is food poisoning or infection.

In addition, the causes of this condition may be problems with the digestive or nervous system.

If the temperature rises to 38 0C, chills appear, an infection or inflammation can be assumed. If the temperature is above 380C, most likely the cause is a rotavirus infection. In most cases, diarrhea appears first, then nausea, vomiting, and an increase in temperature. Usually the condition improves in 3-4 days, but sometimes with a weakened immune system or lack of treatment, diarrhea can last up to 10-12 days. In case of rotavirus infection, medical help is extremely necessary, since frequent diarrhea and vomiting dehydrate the body.

With improper nutrition, colitis often develops, which occurs with severe pain and fever. In addition, gastritis can be the cause of diarrhea with vomiting and blood (indigestion causes vomiting and diarrhea, in some cases constipation).

Viral diseases can also cause diarrhea and vomiting, but in this case, a runny nose and cough are also usually a concern.

Diarrhea can also be caused by gastrointestinal diseases (cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, ulcers, pancreatitis, etc.), in addition to vomiting, a person may be bothered by bitterness in the mouth and sour belching.

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Diarrhea with streaks of blood

Bloody diarrhea often indicates inflammation in the intestines. Blood streaks in the stool may appear due to a violation of the microflora, parasites, infectious diseases.

When viruses and bacteria enter the intestines, the integrity of the vascular walls located close to the inner surface is disrupted, which leads to blood clotting and the appearance of blood streaks in the feces.

Diarrhea with blood and fever

Bloody diarrhea can occur for various reasons. When a high temperature appears, poisoning is first assumed, which usually occurs 1-12 hours after eating poor-quality food. In case of poisoning, diarrhea is accompanied by severe vomiting and fever, in this case, immediate medical attention is required.

Also, the temperature during diarrhea can be associated with intestinal disorders, inflammation of the pancreas due to a long-term exhausting diet, unbalanced nutrition, overeating, poor-quality products. The temperature in this case does not rise above 380C.

If diarrhea continues for several days, and the condition worsens, the temperature rises, then you need to urgently seek medical help. With rotavirus infection, the digestive system is affected, vomiting, sore throat, and a runny nose are added to diarrhea.

Bloody diarrhea and fever may be a symptom of a bacterial infection (staphylococcus, dysentery, salmonellosis), in which case the temperature may reach 400C and is quite difficult to bring down. With a bacterial infection, diarrhea is frequent, has a greenish tint with blood streaks. Treatment of the infection should be started as early as possible, which will help to avoid a number of complications and infection of others.

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Green diarrhea with blood

The reasons for the change in the color of feces during diarrhea can be due to various reasons, some of them are completely natural and do not pose a threat to health, but some reasons can be quite dangerous.

Green diarrhea can appear due to an unbalanced diet, for example, after eating excessive amounts of products that contain green dye (drinks, confectionery, etc.), especially in children. Sometimes this condition occurs in lovers of fresh vegetables and greens.

In an adult, diarrhea with a green tint may indicate the development of an intestinal infection. Often, green diarrhea with blood is observed with dysentery and some other diseases. In addition to diarrhea, a person is also bothered by other symptoms of an infectious disease - nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, etc.

Green diarrhea can be caused by metabolic disorders or elevated hemoglobin. When iron oxidizes, feces become a characteristic greenish tint, and often after taking iron-containing drugs, feces become green.

If the digestive process is disrupted, green diarrhea may also appear; often, feces turn green when the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates is disrupted.

Also, disruption of normal microflora in the intestines can provoke green diarrhea with blood impurities. Dysbacteriosis can develop with decreased immunity, poor nutrition, frequent stress, after taking antibiotics. In addition to diarrhea, in these cases, bloating and abdominal pain are disturbing.

Also, one of the reasons for blood in the stool and changes in its color may be bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

Diarrhea with scarlet blood

Bloody diarrhea may indicate a serious pathology. The presence of scarlet blood in the stool is often associated with bleeding in the lower parts of the digestive system. Scarlet blood impurities in diarrhea may also appear as a result of anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and neoplasms in the rectum.

In case of erosion or injury of the vessels of the gastrointestinal tract by pathological processes, scarlet blood impurities may appear in the feces. Depending on the location of the source of bleeding and the degree of blood loss, vomiting, weakness, dizziness and other symptoms may be added to the diarrhea.

The cause of diarrhea with scarlet blood is diagnosed by enteroscopy, rectoscopy, diagnostic laparotomy and other studies.

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Frequent bloody diarrhea

Frequent bloody diarrhea may be associated with an intestinal infection. At the onset of the disease, a person is bothered by weakness, poor appetite, headaches, and fever. Often, the onset of the disease is confused with cold symptoms. After some time, nausea, sharp abdominal pain, diarrhea appear, the person is tormented by thirst, fever, and excessive gas formation.

In case of intestinal diseases, feces may contain mucus or pus.

In some cases, intestinal infections occur without obvious symptoms, but the person still poses a danger to others, as he or she is a carrier of the infection.

The main cause of frequent bloody diarrhea is dysentery (shigellosis) – a severe infectious intestinal disorder. The disease is dangerous because the bacteria quickly become resistant to antibiotics. In addition, dysentery bacteria are quite “tenacious” and can retain their pathogenic properties for several months under suitable conditions (on food, in water bodies, etc.).

Bloody diarrhea after antibiotics

One of the most common complications after antibiotic treatment is diarrhea, which occurs in 30% of cases. The development of diarrhea after antibacterial therapy can be either mild or severe. Violation of the intestinal microflora can provoke severe diseases. Treatment of diarrhea after antibiotics is best done under the supervision of a doctor, since a mild form of diarrhea often develops into a severe disease.

Uncontrolled or unjustified use of antibiotics can provoke a mild or severe form of intestinal disorder. Some diseases respond well to treatment without the use of antibiotics, but some doctors prescribe antibacterial therapy "for insurance".

After antibiotics, intestinal peristalsis increases, normal microflora is disrupted (both beneficial and most pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed). In addition, after antibacterial therapy, a severe intestinal infection may occur.

After antibiotics, a special type of bacteria, Clostridium deficile, begins to actively multiply in the intestines. They are not sensitive to antibacterial drugs and provoke severe inflammation of the intestines. The risk of developing such an infection increases when taking several antibacterial drugs, a long course of treatment, chronic diseases of internal organs, and in people over 65 years of age. At the same time, intestinal inflammation develops more often in inpatients than in outpatients.

Diarrhea with blood occurs up to 20 times a day, and pus may be present in the stool.

The condition worsens with fever, vomiting, weakness, dehydration and intoxication of the body.

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Bloody diarrhea after binge drinking

Alcohol, getting into the gastric mucosa, kills both beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms, which ultimately leads to a disruption of the digestive process.

In addition, alcohol kills the glandular cells that produce gastric juice.

Bloody diarrhea is not uncommon after drinking alcohol, and diarrhea can also be followed by constipation and vice versa.

Diarrhea may also indicate a malfunction of the pancreas, liver disease. The liver is affected by prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption, in addition to diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, a rise in temperature to 39 ⁰ C may be observed. If, with liver damage, treatment is not started and alcohol consumption is not stopped, a more serious disease may develop - liver cirrhosis, which can lead to death.

If diarrhea regularly occurs after drinking alcohol, a doctor's consultation and a full examination are necessary. Diarrhea after a binge may be associated with the development of serious diseases, which a gastroenterologist can help determine.

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Bloody diarrhea in a child

Bloody diarrhea in a child may occur without any other symptoms, but it may also occur with a significant deterioration in the condition (severe abdominal pain, weakness, high temperature). With frequent and profuse diarrhea, the body loses a lot of fluid, which leads to metabolic disorders. This condition is extremely dangerous for children, so if you find blood in your baby's diarrhea, you should immediately consult a pediatrician and undergo an examination.

Bloody diarrhea can be the first symptom of serious diseases, many of which require surgical intervention.

Diarrhea in a child can develop as a result of a virus or infection (E. coli) entering the body, intestinal irritation, inflammation, or taking medications.

First of all, if a child has bloody diarrhea, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease (gastrointestinal tract disease) is suspected.

Diarrhea with blood in a child may occur due to unbalanced nutrition, allergic reactions. Blood indicates inflammation in the colon, anal fissures, dysbacteriosis. Often, diarrhea with blood is associated with the entry of campylobacter into the child's body, which provokes an infectious intestinal disorder.

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Bloody diarrhea in infants

The cause of bloody diarrhea in infants may be antibacterial therapy, inflammation in the body, or infections.

Blood in the stool of an infant may indicate Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, as well as some other diseases.

Blood may appear due to dysbacteriosis, inflammation of the colon or after unsuccessful surgical interventions. Blood may also appear due to anal fissure or hemorrhoids.

Diarrhea with blood is considered a pathology and self-medication or letting this condition take its course is not recommended.

In most cases, bloody diarrhea develops as a result of infection (salmonellosis, dysentery, etc.).

With bloody diarrhea, the stool is small in volume, and the infant experiences frequent false urges to urinate, high temperature, and vomiting. The stool may contain mucus (lumps, flakes, depending on the pathogen).

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Bloody diarrhea in an adult

Many people do not pay attention to the appearance of diarrhea with blood impurities, but such a condition often indicates serious diseases. Depending on the nature of the impurities in the feces, you can determine the approximate cause of the appearance of blood.

Diarrhea with brightly colored blood can be caused by hemorrhoids or anal fissures, since in this case the blood does not have time to evaporate.

Blood in the stool can also be black and indicate bleeding in the upper intestines. In this case, the blood changes color as it passes through the digestive tract.

If there is quite a lot of blood in the stool, it may be due to an open ulcer.

In any case, the appearance of blood in the stool is a pathology and you should seek medical help as soon as possible and undergo the necessary examination.

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Bloody diarrhea during pregnancy

Diarrhea with blood in most cases is associated with inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

The occurrence of diarrhea in early pregnancy may be associated with hormonal changes in the body, such a condition is a natural reaction of the body and should not cause concern. Also, diarrhea in the last weeks is a natural process of cleansing the body before childbirth and also does not pose a danger.

But blood in the stool should alert the woman in any case. Diarrhea can also be caused by bacteria or viruses that do not pose a threat to the health of the child, however, the intoxication of the body that develops during the disease can harm the fetus, so it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner.

With severe and long-lasting diarrhea, a woman may develop dehydration, which disrupts the normal functioning of the body and leads to a lack of minerals and vitamins. In severe cases of dehydration, a miscarriage or congenital malformations in the unborn child are possible.

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What to do if you have bloody diarrhea?

Bloody diarrhea almost always occurs suddenly and can have severe symptoms. Blood in the stool, especially in large quantities, should be a reason for immediate medical consultation.

Before the ambulance arrives, you can take several steps to stop frequent bowel movements and restore the water-salt balance in the body.

First of all, you need to drink more liquid, preferably still mineral water. You should exclude sweet carbonated drinks, lemonade, alcohol, as this will lead to even greater dehydration. You can add "Glucosan" or "Regidron" to the water, which will help restore salts and minerals.

If bloody diarrhea appeared after poisoning with poor-quality food, you can take sorbents (smecta, enterosgel, polyphepan), which should be taken an hour before meals and medications. Sorbents help remove pathogenic microorganisms, poisons, and toxins from the body.

Herbal infusions that have an astringent effect (bird cherry fruits, oak bark, chamomile flowers, alder cones) can also help. A decoction of purified rice broth can also help stop diarrhea (boil rice for 40 minutes over low heat and eat the resulting sticky mass, you can wash it down with unsweetened strong black tea).

Treatment of diarrhea with blood

The primary treatment for bloody diarrhea should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease, and not just stopping frequent bowel movements.

If bloody diarrhea occurs as a result of an infectious disease, antibacterial and antimicrobial drugs are prescribed.

Diarrhea with blood may require hospitalization and it is not recommended to leave this condition unattended or treat it at home.

Restoring the body's water-salt balance is second only to antibacterial therapy.

Most bacteria have developed resistance to a number of antibiotics, which significantly complicates treatment. Recently, doctors have given preference to drugs from the fluoroquinolone group (ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, etc.).

Emergency medical care is required in the following cases:

• old age;
• children under one year;
• temperature above 38 ⁰ C;
• severe abdominal pain, vomiting;
• as well as vomit of a dark, almost black color with admixtures of red blood;
• bloody diarrhea lasts more than three days;
• pronounced signs of dehydration, loss of consciousness.

In case of indigestion, you can use time-tested folk methods. An infusion of dry chamomile leaves helps well (200 ml of boiling water, 15 g of grass, leave for 3-4 hours in a thermos or a well-wrapped jar). You need to drink this infusion four times a day after meals, 30 ml each.

For bloody diarrhea, a herbal infusion helps well: 2 incomplete tablespoons of erect cinquefoil, burnet rhizome, 3 tablespoons of shepherd's purse, 200 ml of boiling water, take 30 ml 4-6 times a day.

Diarrhea with blood, especially if it appears against the background of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, requires immediate medical attention. This condition may be associated with diseases that are dangerous to health and life, so it is necessary to identify the cause of diarrhea with blood impurities as early as possible and prescribe effective treatment.