One of the many symptoms ofinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)is bleeding.
Blood in or on the stool can be frightening.
While it can be a sign of an emergency, it’s sometimes part of an IBD flare-up.
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IBD is a term for two gastrointestinal conditions with chronic inflammationulcerative colitisandCrohn’s disease.
With either condition, blood might appear in or on the stool.
Some people may pass no stool at all at times and just pass blood.
Bleeding from the rectumand large intestine from IBD is typically red or bright red.
Blood coming from higher up in the digestive tract could appear asdarker or black stools.
In most cases, this bleeding is slow and steady.
This article discusses how bleeding may occur with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
It covers symptoms to watch for and how it’s usually treated.
Blood in the stool is more common in ulcerative colitis than it is in Crohn’s disease.
The inflammation in ulcerative colitis often involves the rectum.
The ulcers that form in the mucosa of the large intestine tend to bleed.
What Causes Ulcerative Colitis?
In some cases, bleeding from ulcerative colitis can lead to significant blood loss.
The ultimate goal of treatment will be to calm the inflammation and stop the bleeding.
Treating the loss of blood may also be necessary.
Blood loss from ulcerative colitis can cause anemia, which is a low red blood cell count.
The most severe bleeding (called hemorrhaging) because of ulcerative colitis could be life-threatening.
This isn’t common, but if the bleeding can’t be stopped, surgery may be needed.
Duringileostomy surgery, the large intestine is removed.
Another surgery might be done at a later date to create aJ-pouch.
The J-pouch uses part of your small intestine to form a pouch to connect to the anal canal.
However, this can vary based on where Crohn’s disease is causing the inflammation.
Crohn’s disease can cause inflammation in the small and large intestines.
J-pouch surgery isn’t usually done for Crohn’s disease because Crohn’s may reappear in the pouch.
Blood loss can also occur with ananal fissure, which can develop as a complication of Crohn’s disease.
A fissure is a tear in the lining of the anal canal.
Fissures are more common with Crohn’s than they are with ulcerative colitis.
In most cases, they can be treated successfully without surgery.
Severe cases of inflammation may require resection surgery, which removes the damaged part of the intestines.
When to See a Doctor
Let your doctor know anytime you notice any blood in your stool.
Bleeding is more common in ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s disease.
Ulcers in the colon may also lead to bleeding.
Crohn’s disease can cause blood in the stool from inflammation in the colon or rectum.
You may also have bleeding from anal fissures, which can be a complication of Crohn’s.
Your doctor will work with you to help get your IBD symptoms, including bleeding, under control.
Sometimes blood in the stool can lead to anemia, a low red blood cell count.
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American Gastroenterological Association.
“Inflammatory Bowel Disease.”
Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America.
“What is Crohns Disease?.”
