Medical Health Encyclopedia

Bloody or tarry stools

Brisk bleeding in the esophagus or stomach (such as with peptic ulcer disease), can also cause you to vomit blood.

Common Causes:

Upper GI tract (usually black stools):

• Bleeding stomach or duodenal ulcer
• Gastritis
• Esophageal varices
• Mallory-Weiss tear (a tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting)
• Trauma or foreign body
• Bowel ischemia (a lack of proper blood flow to the intestines)
• Vascular malformation

Text Continues Below

---

Lower GI tract (usually maroon or bright red, bloody stools):

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Diverticular bleeding
• Intestinal infection (such as bacterial enterocolitis)
• Vascular malformation
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Tumor
• Colon polyps or colon cancer
• Trauma or foreign body
• Bowel ischemia (a lack of proper blood flow to the intestines)

References:

Green BT, Tendler DA. Ischemic Colitis: A Clinical Review. South Med J. 2005; 98 (2): 217-222.

Cappell MS. The role of sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy in the diagnosis and management of lower gastrointestinal disorders: technique, indications, and contraindications. Med Clin North Am. 2002; 86(6): 1217-1252.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.