Re: Red Poop?

Red or blood in the stool could be caused by hemorrhoids. Bloody stools can also be seen in amebiasis (an amoeba infection), anal fissures, or colorectal cancer.

Bright red bleeding with bowel movements may be due to hemorrhoids; however, other conditions such as colonic polyps or tumors, diverticulosis, and abnormal small vessels called AVMs also may cause bleeding.

Maroon-colored stools or bright red blood usually suggest that the blood is coming from large bowel or rectum. However, sometimes can be caused by massive upper GI tract bleeding.

The color of the stool can suggest the location of the bleeding however this is not reliable.

Black color –
- bleeding ulcer
- gastritis
- esophageal varices
- a tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting

Maroon color –
- all the causes of black color stool
- diverticular bleeding
- vascular malformation
- intestinal infection (such as bacterial enterocolitis)
- inflammatory bowel disease
- tumor
- colon polyps or colon cancer

Bright red color -
- all the causes of black or maroon color stool
- hemorrhoids
- anal fissures ("cracks" in the anal area)