What's going on with blood on toilet paper?

If there is blood on the toilet paper during bowel movements, you must pay attention. The most common cause is hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are an important cause of bloody stools. You need to analyze it based on the specific symptoms, because if it is hemorrhoids, most of the time it is fresh blood. If you feel that the blood on the paper contains other substances, you must be alert at this time, as it may be caused by some intestinal diseases. It is best to go to the hospital for timely examination.

What's the matter with blood on toilet paper?

1. Hemorrhoids: If you have external hemorrhoids, you can feel a soft nodule at the anus, but you cannot feel internal hemorrhoids. The amount of bleeding is heavy and not mixed with the stool. Sometimes there is only blood stain on the toilet paper. The bleeding is often related to dry stool or excessive force during defecation.

2. Rectal and colon cancer: These diseases have increased significantly in recent years, and the incidence rate has increased by 2-3 times. At the beginning of the disease, a small amount of blood can be seen covering the surface of the stool. As the disease progresses, the amount of bleeding in the stool gradually increases, the stool may become thinner, and even intestinal obstruction may occur (no bowel movement, no flatulence, vomiting, abdominal lumps, abdominal pain). The stool may have a special odor produced by pus, mucus and cancerous tissue. When systemic symptoms appear, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, edema, anemia, etc., the disease is already in the late stage.

3. Ulcerative colitis: The blood may be bright or dark in color, and almost every stool is mixed with blood and pus. There are often abdominal pain and diarrhea, which may recur or persist for a long time.

4. Intestinal polyps: Some are benign, while others are prone to malignant transformation (such as adenomatous polyps and villous adenomas). The incidence rate increases with age and may occur singly or multiple times. Bleeding in the stool is often intermittent, bright red blood, usually not much blood, and the blood is not mixed with the stool. There are no special changes in the stool itself.

5. Intestinal vascular dysplasia: It is more common in middle-aged and elderly people. The bleeding is mostly fresh blood, the amount of bleeding is large, and there is no change in the stool itself.

Treatment of bloody stools

1. General treatment measures

Patients with hemorrhagic shock should rest in bed, lie flat without a pillow, and receive oxygen. Closely observe vital signs such as consciousness, breathing, pulse, blood pressure, etc., observe the amount and color of blood in the stool, and record urine volume.

2. Replenish blood volume

Patients with heavy bloody stools, obvious anemia or shock should actively replenish blood volume. Plasma substitutes or whole blood are preferred, as they help correct shock.

3. Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy can be performed after basic hemostasis, which is of diagnostic value for lesions of the entire colon (including the ileocecal region and terminal ileum) and rectum. After the bleeding focus is found, a variety of hemostatic methods can be used under endoscopy.

4. Barium X-ray examination

After the bleeding stops, barium enterography or barium enema can be performed, which can help detect a variety of primary diseases that cause bleeding.

5. Surgical treatment

In a few cases where bleeding cannot be stopped or the diagnosis cannot be established after the above examinations and treatments, surgical exploration can be performed.