Is it normal to experience bloody stool after taking throat tablets?

Blood in stool after taking pharyngitis tablets is generally an abnormal phenomenon, which may be related to adverse drug reactions, issues with the pharyngitis tablets themselves, or due to the coexistence of other diseases causing hematochezia, such as peptic ulcer. If blood in stool occurs after taking pharyngitis tablets, it is recommended to discontinue the medication immediately and seek medical attention for a definitive diagnosis to avoid delaying treatment.

1. Adverse Drug Reactions:

Since pharyngitis tablets are traditional Chinese medicines containing herbs like dandelion, asparagus root, ophiopogon root, scrophularia, indigowort root, giant knotweed rhizome, and scutellaria root, which possess heat-clearing and detoxifying, as well as throat-soothing and swelling-reducing properties, they are primarily used in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis. Normally, blood in stool does not occur after taking these tablets. If it does, it may be related to drug factors such as allergic reactions, manifested by skin rashes, itching, and in severe cases, laryngeal edema, allowing blood to enter the intestines through the throat, resulting in hematochezia.

2. Issues with Pharyngitis Tablets:

If a patient suffers from chronic pharyngitis, their throat may be prone to congestion and swelling. Stimulation to these areas, such as from spicy or hard foods, can cause small blood vessels in the throat to rupture, leading to hematochezia.

3. Peptic Ulcer:

If a patient already has a peptic ulcer, such as a gastric ulcer, blood in stool after taking pharyngitis tablets may indicate ulcer bleeding. A definitive diagnosis can be made through a gastroscopy to identify the bleeding point on the gastric mucosa. If the bleeding is caused by a gastric ulcer, treatment with medications like lansoprazole can be prescribed under a doctor's supervision.

4. Other Causes:

Patients with diseases like liver cirrhosis may experience bleeding due to coagulation disorders caused by the disease. This can manifest as blood in stool after taking pharyngitis tablets. In such cases, a liver function test is necessary for diagnosis.

Therefore, if blood in stool occurs after taking pharyngitis tablets, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly. Diagnostic tests like gastroscopy and blood tests can help establish a definitive diagnosis, enabling targeted treatment under a doctor's guidance.