A 22-year-old female asked:
how do you know if there is blood in your stool? there were small, bright red flecks but didn't know if it was blood or food.
2 doctor answers
Dr. Kevin Considine answered
29 years experience Family Medicine
Depends: It could be something you ate like beets for example but if not sure this should at least be discussed with your doctor. Often bright red blood can just be something benign like hemorrhoids but it can also be something more serious especially if it persists or worsens. If you haven't seen your doctor at least once i would do so now to be sure.
Answered on Jul 9, 2013
2
2 comments
1
1 thank
Dr. Kevin Considine commented
29 years experience Family Medicine
Provided original answer
agreed
Jul 18, 2012
Dr. Ralph Morgan Lewis commented
37 years experience Family Medicine
Microscopic blood may not be visible & requires an occult blood test (just stool on special paper that shows blood when special drops are added). Do see doc for exam.
Jul 18, 2012
Dr. Robert Greer answered
43 years experience Family Medicine
Easy: Ask your dr for a "hemacult" like test.You wipe some stool, like off toilet paper, onto a specially prepared paper slide and we look for a color change.This test can be compromised by eating rare beef, beets and other iron containing foods.
Answered on Jul 9, 2013
1
1 thank
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Related questions:
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Scot Lewey answered
36 years experience Gastroenterology
Could be or not: Salsa obviously has red tomato and sometimes red pepper. Flecks of undigested fiber material from the salsa could pass in your stool just like corn ke ... Read More
1
1 thank
A member asked:
Dr. James Ferguson answered
45 years experience Pediatrics
Varies: If it came from the outlet, it would be bright red. If it spent some time in the intestine, it begins to break down and change color. Currant jelly pu ... Read More
1
1 thank
A male asked:
Dr. Stacy Frye answered
13 years experience Sports Medicine
Could be fissure: Oftentimes, bright red blood on the outside of stool will be due to an anal fissure - a small tear that can happen usually from straining to pass stoo ... Read More
1
1 comment
2
2 thanks
A 36-year-old male asked:
A Verified Doctor answered
A US doctor answered Learn more
Blood: Seems more likely. Perhaps from a haemorrhoid although there may be other possibilities (fissure, diverticular disease etc). Could be food as some w ... Read More
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
People also searched for:
Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now — wait time is less than 1 minute!
Unlimited visits
$10/month