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'Hematochezia' is the passage of bright red, bloody stools from the rectum.^[1] It is distinguished from melena, which is stool with blood that has been altered by the gut flora and appears black/"tarry". Hematochezia is commonly associated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
In adults, the most common causes are hemorrhoids and diverticulosis, both of which are relatively benign; however, it can also be caused by colorectal cancer, which is frequently fatal. In a newborn infant (neonate), hematochezia may be the result of swallowed maternal blood at the time of delivery, but can also be an initial symptom of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious condition affecting premature infants. In adolescents and young adults, inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis, is a serious cause of hematochezia that must be considered and excluded.
Hematochezia can be due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, as the blood from such a bleeding is usually chemically modified by action of acid and enzymes, it presents more commonly as melena. Hematochezia from an upper gastrointestinal source is an ominous sign, as it suggests a very brisk bleed which is life threatening.

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External links

See also

★ Blood in stool

References

1. eMedicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup!: hematochezia

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★ Case presentation