The excellent news: Wholesome adults often get well from E. coli–associated points in a couple of week. Usually, resting and consuming loads of fluids to assist stop dehydration is the primary factor to do. The unhealthy information: E. coli that causes bloody diarrhea can typically make folks sick sufficient to wind up within the hospital. On the hospital, you may obtain supportive care, like IV fluids, blood transfusions, and kidney dialysis, if needed.

Even when you’ve got a light case and a physician says you may get well at house, don’t take anti-diarrheal remedy, which slows down your digestive system and might make it take longer to really feel higher.

6. Peptic ulcer

A peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops both on the within lining of your abdomen (gastric ulcer) or the higher portion of your small gut (duodenal ulcer). These ulcers can occur as a consequence of bacterial infections and using NSAID painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium, in keeping with the NIDDK.

Whereas the vast majority of folks with peptic ulcers don’t have any signs, the most typical symptom you would possibly expertise is belly ache. Nonetheless, in much less frequent and extra extreme instances, you too can find yourself with darkish blood in your poop. “It may appear like driveway tar—it’s shiny and sticky and has a peculiar odor to it,” Gail Bongiovanni, MD, a gastroenterologist and adjunct professor within the division of digestive illnesses on the College of Cincinnati Faculty of Medication, tells SELF. This darkish stool is also referred to as melena and might have a consistency like peanut butter. If you happen to discover it, it suggests that you simply want an analysis of your higher intestinal tract to find the supply of the bleeding.

Medical doctors might prescribe medicine to neutralize irritating abdomen acid or medicines to assist defend the tissues that line your abdomen and small gut. In case your peptic ulcer is bleeding, you’ll need a process often called an higher endoscopy so a gastroenterologist can deal with the bleed and cease it from bleeding once more.

7. Crohn’s illness or ulcerative colitis

Although these are two totally different types of inflammatory bowel illness (IBD), each Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis may cause persistent irritation in your digestive tract that results in bleeding ulcers—therefore you pooping blood.

In case you’re not conversant in it, Crohn’s illness is a persistent illness that causes irritation and irritation in your digestive tract, often in your small gut and the start of your massive gut, per the NIDDK. Ulcerative colitis is a persistent illness that causes irritation or swelling and sores referred to as ulcers on the interior lining of your massive gut.

IBD remedy programs range from individual to individual, however they will contain taking anti-inflammatory medicine like corticosteroids to tame irritation, immunosuppressants to cease your immune system from attacking your digestive tract, and drugs to fight signs like diarrhea and constipation. A health care provider can also advocate surgical procedure if different therapies haven’t helped as a lot as they need to. Needless to say your remedy choices might change over time primarily based on new analysis and newly accessible therapies. Ensure you have ongoing conversations along with your physician about which remedy choices is likely to be greatest for you.

8. Colorectal most cancers

Vivid purple rectal bleeding can typically be as a consequence of colorectal most cancers, in keeping with the American Most cancers Society (ACS). Colorectal most cancers is hard to pin down—it could not trigger signs instantly, the American Most cancers Society says, and when it does, rectal bleeding can present up alone or with different points. You may also expertise issues like diarrhea, constipation, a persistent urge to poop, a change in your stool form or dimension (e.g., they develop into pencil-thin), belly ache, weak spot and fatigue, and unintended weight reduction. 

Threat components for colorectal most cancers embody a private or household historical past of colorectal polyps, a private or household historical past of irritable bowel illness like Crohn’s colitis or ulcerative colitis, being Black, and being above 45, per the ACS. (Nonetheless, colorectal most cancers charges are considerably rising in youthful folks, too.)