Rectal Bleeding
Bleeding from rectum may be the result of bleeding anywhere in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from the mouth to the anus. However, it most commonly occurs due to bleeding from the colon, rectum or anus.
The most common causes are haemorrhoids, anal fissure, diverticular bleeding, colitis and colon cancer.
The amount, colour, pattern, duration of bleeding as well as presence of other symptoms are important in determining the cause.
It is important to have a low threshold for further investigation as two problems may co-exist such as colon cancer and haemorrhoids.
Rectal bleeding can be caused by colorectal cancer. It is, therefore, very important to exclude colorectal cancer by having a colonoscopy unless the history and examination suggest a clear and obvious cause.