Diarrhea refers to frequent, watery bowel movements that are greater in volume than normal. When blood is found in the diarrhea, the condition is considered to be more severe. Chronic diarrhea, especially with blood, can be a symptom of a more serious health concern, such as ulcerative colitis or Chron's disease. Any blood in the stool should be treated by a doctor right away. There is a different in finding a bit of blood on the tissue after wiping the anus and seeing blood in the contents of the toilet after a bout of diarrhea.
Bacteria
A number of bacteria can cause diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that salmonella, campylobacter, shigella and E. coli are common culprits of blood in the stool. These bacteria can be found in human and animal fecal matter. Individuals become infected with these bacteria when they consume a food or drink that was infected through improper handling. Hand washing, cooking animal products fully and preventing cross-contamination by not cutting vegetables with the same knife as raw animal products are all ways to prevent bacterial infection.
Colitis
Colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It is characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. In ulcerative colitis, the large intestine and rectum are primarily affected by the disease, explains the Mayo Clinic. Ischemic colitis primarily consists of the large intestines being inflamed. When colitis flares up, some of the symptoms include mucus in the stools, frequent diarrhea, abdominal cramping, intestinal pain and blood in the stool. There is no known cure for the disease, but there are medications used to control the problem.
Digestive Tract Obstructions
An obstruction of the digestive tract can lead to diarrhea. This can include the consumption of an item that the body cannot break down, such as an inedible item. When an abnormal pouch forms in the colon (diverticulosis) the result can be blood in the stools. Hemorrhoids, inflamed veins in the rectum, are another form of gastrointestinal obstruction. Sometimes a tumor or colon polyp can be the culprit, suggests the National Institutes of Health. These health concerns require medical diagnosis to properly treat the underlying condition. Frequent diarrhea can cause anal irritation, which can cause the tissues to rupture and lead to bleeding.
