Bloody Diarrhea

Bloody diarrhea is a result of bleeding along the gastrointestinal tract. It can be caused by a number of digestive problems such as cancer along the digestive tract, parasitic or bacterial infections, or genetic diseases like Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis. This condition can have a substantial impact on quality of life and overall health. Bloody diarrhea is dangerous for a number of reasons. It causes blood loss and the loss of various nutrients that are in the blood and may lead to forms of anemia. It is also life-threatening due to constant dehydration. Of course, bloody diarrhea is also dangerous due to the underlying cause that triggered it.

Parasitic Bloody Diarrhea Causes

Very often blood in diarrhea is caused by bacterial or parasitic diseases contracted during contact with unsanitary water or conditions. Such parasitic conditions may be

• Giardia Lamblia
• Entamoeba Histolytica
• Norwalk Virus

Other bacterial (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli) bowel infections can be contracted through contaminated food or water.

Chronic diarrhea can be accompanied by symptoms of explosive diarrhea or steatorrhea.

Digestive Diseases Causing Bloody Diarrhea

Other causes of bloody diarrhea may be Ulcerative Colitis, Chron's Disease, Irritable bowel syndrome, food allergies or sensitivities, and other genetic gastrointestinal disorders. The blood can also be due to an ulcer or even digestive tract cancers. It is always helpful to consult with medical professionals, but if this condition becomes chronic, you should see a doctor immediately.

Bloody Diarrhea Treatment and Diagnosis

Simplest treatment for bloody diarrhea is a diet that does not make existing symptoms worse and helps in improving overall health. You may want to stop consuming red-colored foods and drink to eliminate color confusion. Take a look at some nutrition guidelines to understand how to cleanse your body of bad bacteria and promote digestive health. It is imperative to keep drinking water to keep yourself hydrated during the bouts of diarrhea. Treatment is usually aimed at firming up loose stools, and dealing with any complications of diarrhea.

Infections may be treated with antibiotics. Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis require long-term treatment and continuous monitoring without definitive cure. With proper treatment and care, patients can minimize flare-ups without having their lifestyle negatively affected. On the other hand, if the disorders are not carefully monitored and symptoms quickly treated, complications may be quite severe.

To treat the digestive tract bleeding it is crucial to make a correct diagnosis. Some digestive system tests your gastroenterologist may want to perform are:

• Physical examination
• Abdominal X-rays
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• CT scan
• Blood tests
• Colonoscopy
• ERCP
• Sigmoidoscopy