Blood in your toddler's stool may be the result of a few different problems, and it is often difficult to determine the cause yourself. Because of the potentially dangerous situations, it is best to seek prompt medical attention if you see blood...
Your child's digestive or gastrointestinal tract includes his esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and his anus. Bleeding can come from any of these areas, and it may even occur without you or your child noticing it, according to...
An anal fissure is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue lining of the anus. Anal fissures are extremely common, especially in infants. In adults, fissures may result from constipation, which can cause tears and irritate the rectal lining. When a...
While fiber doesn't provide any energy, nor does it contain vitamins or minerals, it's nevertheless an important part of the human diet. Appropriate fiber intake helps maintain the health of the digestive tract and even enhances cardiovascular and...
When your doctor places you on a cholesterol-lowering medication, it is only natural to believe you are on your way to improving your health. There is one catch in this plan, though, and this is the possible side effects accompanying the drug your...
Impacted bowels is an uncomfortable condition that can result from chronic constipation. Also known as fecal impaction, this condition is the presence of solid masses of dry stool in the rectum. These masses block the rectum and make it difficult...
An impacted colon is the presence of hard, dry stool in the rectum. This condition is also known as a fecal impaction. There are several signs of an impacted colon that give health professionals the information they need to make an accurate...
An anal fissure can be a source of intense discomfort and pain. The treatment of these fissures centers around a balanced diet that promotes a healthy digestive tract. Over 90 percent of anal fissures heal without surgery, according to the...
Anal itching, or pruritus ani, is a common yet embarrassing problem. Anal itching is usually an isolated symptom in a healthy individual. People are able to treat many causes of anal itching at home. However, people experiencing chronic anal...
A small tear in the lining of the anal canal is known as an anal fissure. The condition occurs in 80 percent of infants and is also seen in older adults when constipation or decreased blood flow is present, according to MedlinePlus. Symptoms of an...
Women in varying phases of life can benefit from Kegel exercises, which strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Several factors can lead to weakened muscles, such as pregnancy, childbirth, being overweight, chronic cough and aging, reports the Mayo...
Diverticular disease affects your colon -- the waste-removing portion of your large intestine. Diverticulosis occurs when diverticula, or small pouches, form in your colon. Doctors think the diverticula pouches may be formed when you strain to...
A colonoscopy is an exam to detect abnormalities within the colon and rectum and possible causes of rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea or constipation, or other intestinal issues. A colonoscopy is considered the "gold standard" for screening colon...
According to the American Council on Exercise, the average daily consumption of fiber for a healthy diet should be between 25 to 35 grams depending on body size. Unfortunately many people fail to reach even half of this amount. Fiber helps your...
An anal fissure is a small slit or tear in the mucosal lining of the rectum. Causes of adult anal fissures include constipation, passing large stools and swelling caused by inflammatory bowel disease. MayoClinic.com reports nearly 90 percent of...
Diverticulitis and diverticulosis receive much attention these days in conjunction with diet. The words may sound funny to most people, but their occurrences are anything but humorous. Diverticulosis means having the condition of diverticula,...
Nearly every parent frets about their baby's bowel movements, or lack thereof. A decrease in the number of bowel movements often indicates constipation in children and adults, so parents naturally despair if their baby does not have a dirty diaper...
Noticing rectal bleeding after a workout might cause you to feel alarmed. However, most cases of rectal bleeding are not a medical emergency and often result from temporary conditions such as constipation or injuries to the skin around the anus....
Crohn's disease is one of the group of conditions called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. Children with Crohn's disease may be affected anywhere in the digestive system, from the mouth all...
Anal itching and burning is a symptom associated with a variety of causes. A variety of self-care measures can often relieve the symptoms. However, medical attention is required if home treatments do not relieve symptoms because they may be a...
Dietary fiber is found in two forms, soluble and insoluble. Fiber is not digested as it passes through the digestive tract. Grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables contain fiber that helps to move foods through the intestines and prevent...
Crohn's disease, which is also known as inflammatory bowel disease, can be mild or quite severe. Crohn's disease causes an inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract. This can lead to the development of sores or ulcers. The American...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS. While male-male sexual contact remains the most frequent route of HIV transmission in the United States, high-risk,...
The American Dietetic Association encourages people to get 20 to 35 g of fiber a day. If you're like many Americans, you're probably consuming only a portion of that amount. Not getting enough fiber is associated with not only constipation but...
The lining of the large intestine produces mucus, which serves as a lubricant for stool to pass to the anus. Mucus can be present in stool, but when the production is increased enough that you are able to see it in your child's bowel movements,...
If your baby has dry, hard stools, she may be constipated. Babies follow their own schedules for defecation; you cannot identify irregularity by comparing your baby's bowel movements to a typical schedule for other children. However, if your baby...
Constipation is a common side effect of following the Atkins diet plan. A solution for the associated discomfort, pain and bloating is invaluable to those who suffer from it.
