Diarrhea is problematic enough on its own, but the presence of bloody diarrhea signals that something more serious is going on with the body. Bloody diarrhea serves as a warning sign for internal trauma, ulcers, infections and even cancer. Ignoring this symptom can mean turning away from an opportunity to take a proactive stance to preserve life-long health. Understanding the most common causes of bloody diarrhea will lead to the best treatment outcomes.
Gastritis
Gastritis has been linked to bloody diarrhea, especially in its more severe forms. While mild gastritis, also known as dyspepsia, may only cause abdominal pain, erosive gastritis can cause both black, tarry stools and bloody diarrhea-like symptoms, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. As gastritis is a lead-in problem for ulcers, polyps and even gastric tumors, prompt treatment is needed. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that gastritis can be treated with antacids, histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
Gastrointestinal Infections
According to KidsHealth, gastrointestinal infections often cause bloody diarrhea in both children and adults. The link between the infection and the bloody diarrhea may take a few hours or a few days to manifest, but the stools will be a clear indicator that something is amiss. KidsHealth reports that the most common gastrointestinal infections causing diarrhea and bloody stools include salmonella, shigella, E. coli, giardia parasites and cryptosporidium.
Ulcerative Colitis
One of the primary symptoms of ulcerative colitis is bloody diarrhea. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, bloody diarrhea is linked to other symptoms of ulcerative colitis that include abdominal pain and rectal bleeding. If the bloody diarrhea is being caused by ulcerative colitis, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse notes that it can be treated with medications like aminosalicylates, steroids and immunomodulators in milder cases, and surgeries in more severe cases.
Colon Cancer
In rare cases, the cause of bloody diarrhea may be colon cancer. The Mayo Clinic notes that bloody diarrhea coupled with persistent abdominal pain, weakness and loss of appetite may signal a cancerous growth. Bloody diarrhea as a warning sign of colon cancer can be treated with the cancer through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, according to the Mayo Clinic.
