Rectal Bleeding (cont.)

What are the causes of rectal bleeding?

Many diseases and conditions can cause rectal bleeding. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, cancers and polyps of the rectum and colon, diverticulosis, abnormal blood vessels (angiodysplasia), ulcerative colitis, ulcerative proctitis, Crohn’s colitis, infectious colitis, ischemic colitis, and Meckel’s diverticula.

an anal fissure is a fairly common, painful condition in which the lining of the anal canal is torn. an anal fissure is caused by constipation or a forceful bowel movement, though a tight anal muscle also may be a contributing factor. once the skin is torn, each subsequent bowel movement can be painful, and the pain often is severe. The amount of bleeding that occurs with an anal fissure is small and usually is noticed in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper as bright red in color. The symptoms of an anal fissure are commonly mistaken for hemorrhoids, but hemorrhoids generally do not cause pain with bowel movements. For more, please see the Anal Fissure article.

Hemorrhoids are masses or clumps (“cushions”) of tissue within the anal canal that contain blood vessels. although most people think hemorrhoids are abnormal, they are present in everyone. it is only when the hemorrhoidal cushions enlarge that hemorrhoids can cause problems (such as bleeding or anal discomfort) and be considered abnormal or a disease. Like anal fissures, bleeding from hemorrhoids is usually mild and does not cause anemia or low blood pressure. Rarely, a person may develop an iron deficiency anemia as a result of repeated hemorrhoid bleeding over several months to years. For more, please see the Hemorrhoid article.

next: Diverticulosis

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The colon is the last part of the digestive tract that helps in digestion. often, the outer lining of the colon gets inflamed due to infections, a condition medically known as ‘colitis’. as a result of the inflammation, the lining of the colon and rectum get sore and is often associated with abdominal pain and diarrhea. Colon inflammation can occur due to several reasons including bacterial infection (infectious colitis), narrowing of arteries that limit blood supply to the colon (ischemic colitis), harmful chemicals infused in the colon (chemical colitis), autoimmunity (ulcerative colitis), and colon wall glutted with lymphocytes and collagens (microscopic colitis). Colon inflammation can also be associated with colon cancer in which blood appears in the stools. The signs of ulcerative colitis are similar to another common inflammatory bowel disease, ‘crohn’s disease’. Physicians often go for colonoscopy to diagnose the disease. if you wish to learn more about the signs and symptoms of colon inflammation, here is an overview of the symptoms of the same. Read on to educate yourself more on this.

Signs & Symptoms of Colon Inflammation

Treatment for Colon Inflammation Consult with your physician for early diagnosis if you exhibit any of the above signs and symptoms. Colon infection originating from bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics along with anti-inflammatory medications. if the patient does not respond well to anti-inflammatory medication, he or she is treated with drugs that suppress the immune system. Intravenous fluid is given to patients who are suffering from ‘ischemic colitis’, to give rest to the colon. Many patients require surgical intervention to get relief from this painful condition. Doctors particularly suggest surgery when patients have massive bleeding from the colon due to the inflammation. Surgery is particularly recommended to treat a ruptured colon that is highly at risk of developing cancer. In colon surgery, surgeons usually remove the colon and the rectum and create a small opening (stoma) for release of bowel waste. A small opening is made in the abdomen which is then connected to the small intestine. A plastic bag (known as colostomy bag) is then placed over the opening where feces get accumulated.