(HealthDay News) -- Bloody stools can indicate an internal injury or abnormality. A doctor should evaluate the condition without delay.
The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests these possible causes of blood in the stools:
- An abnormality in the blood vessels, or an esophageal tear.
- An ulcer in the duodenum, gastritis, or bleeding in the stomach.
- Insufficient blood flow to the intestines.
- An injury or object lodged in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Anal fissures, colon cancer or polyps in the colon.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Diverticulosis or inflammatory bowel disease.
- An infection in the intestines.
- A tumor in the small bowel.
