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Black or Bloody Stools
Stools that look tarry, black, or bloody can be alarming, but they are not always a sign of serious illness. To understand what to do about this symptom, it is important to recognize which unusual-looking stools are simply bothersome and which require a visit to the doctor.
Causes
Related topics
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What to do About
Black or Bloody Stools |
| Known hemorrhoids: blood on toilet tissue or blood-tinged water in toilet bowl, or rectal pain or itching, or both |
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| New onset of blood on toilet tissue or blood-tinged water in toilet bowl with no history of hemorrhoids |
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| Black, tarry stools unrelated to intake of food or medicine |
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| Bright red rectal bleeding associated with abdominal pain or fever |
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| Bright red rectal bleeding associated with bleeding disorders, ulcers, or gastrointestinal disease or with taking blood thinners, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) |
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| Sudden onset of heavy, continuous, bright red rectal bleeding or black, tarry stools |
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Resources
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