Just because a majority of the cases that bleed from the rectum are associated with piles, it does not necessarily mean that all the cases have the same diagnosis. It is very natural for us to think that we belong to the majority and are hence safe. However, the truth is that it is better to play it safe rather than to be sorry later. Getting examined by a specialist and undergoing certain investigations may cost a lot, but doing so is definitely worthwhile; especially if you do not have a shortage of funds.
There are many conditions that can lead to bleeding from the rectum, some of which are dreadful diseases that can prove fatal. So, if you wish to clear your doubts about the diagnosis and have your peace of mind, it makes sense to try and find out the cause of the problem before attempting to treat it. A general physician may not have the equipment to do a detailed examination of the rectum. Therefore, visiting a doctor who specializes in such disorders is recommended. The passage of blood in stools can be macroscopic or microscopic.
While microscopic bleeding or occult blood in stools needs to be tested for in a laboratory, visible bleeding is noticed by the patient himself. This bleeding may be frank or altered. Frank bleeding is obviously red in color; however, altered blood can be dark brown to tarry black in color. This blood loss usually gives rise to anemia. Not many people know that the cause of blood in stools can lie high up in the gastrointestinal tract too and are not necessarily always from the lower part of the alimentary canal only.
Abnormal mucosal pouches in the large intestine, faulty blood vessels in the area, ulcers or tears in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, cancers, and growths such as polyps can also give rise to bleeding. Any inflammatory process in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines can produce bleeding. Such inflammations can be the result of infections, chemical toxicity, radiation injury, or decreased blood supply. Surgical trauma can also lead to this problem, which generally manifests within a matter of hours of an abdominal operation.
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Tags: Altered blood, Anemia, Bleeding per rectum, Blood in stools, Cancer, Chemical toxicity, Frank blood, Infection, Macroscopic, Microscopic, Occult blood, Piles, Radiation injury, Specialist, Surgical trauma
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