How Does the Blood in the Stool Look Like?
Blood in the stool may appear as:
- Invisible (occult)
- Bright red fluid
- Red streaks on the stool surface
- Red or maroon colored stool
- Black tarry stool
Is Blood in the Stool a Symptom of a Dangerous Disorder?
If blood in the stool results from rough wiping or hemorrhoids, it’s usually not dangerous. In most of other cases, it may be a symptom of a serious disorder, and has to be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.
In general, blood in the stool from the end of the gut (anus, rectum) is bright red and liquid, and blood from the stomach or above is black and thick. Massive bleeding from the stomach may still appear as red blood, and blood from the rectum may be dark, if bacteria had several hours to change its color.
