Why Is There Blood Dripping After Defecation?

Every day, we need to expel waste from our bodies through bowel movements. However, some people may notice abnormalities in the color and shape of their stool, as well as bleeding during or after defecation. In general, hemorrhoids are a common cause of rectal bleeding. However, if the bleeding is not due to hemorrhoids, it is important to be vigilant about the possibility of rectal diseases, such as rectal cancer.

Rectal bleeding refers to the expulsion of blood from the anus, resulting in stool that appears bright red, dark red, or tarry (black). It is a symptom, rather than a disease itself. Rectal bleeding is most commonly associated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, especially bleeding from the colon and rectum, but it can also occur due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The color of the blood depends on the location of the bleeding, the amount of blood lost, and the duration of its stay in the gastrointestinal tract.

1. Diseases of the digestive tract itself, such as esophageal/gastric varices rupture, gastric/intestinal ulcers and inflammation, parasitic infections, tumors (including polyps and cancer), hemorrhoids, intussusception, anal fissures, and fecal abrasions due to dry stool.

2. Diseases of other systems outside the digestive tract, such as hematological disorders, acute infectious diseases, vitamin deficiencies, poisoning, or drug toxicity.

3. In children, rectal bleeding is often caused by intestinal polyps, which present as bright red, painless blood that is not mixed with stool. It can also be seen in bacterial dysentery, intussusception, and hematological diseases. In adults, rectal bleeding is commonly caused by hemorrhoids, anal fistulas, anal fissures, intestinal polyps, colorectal cancer, and inflammatory bowel diseases.

The main clinical manifestation is acute (immediate) bleeding, where the blood flows out of the vessel and is expelled through the anus with the stool or flows directly after defecation. The appearance of the expelled blood is similar to traumatic bleeding, appearing bright red, purple-red, or dark red, and can clot into blood clots over time.

Rectal bleeding is often associated with the following diseases:

(1) Hemorrhoids: Both internal and external hemorrhoids, as well as mixed hemorrhoids, can cause rectal bleeding. Typically, the blood is attached to the stool or drips after defecation. External hemorrhoids generally do not cause rectal bleeding.

(2) Intestinal polyps: These can cause painless rectal bleeding that occurs during defecation and stops afterward. The amount of blood can vary, and it is usually not mixed with the stool. However, if the polyps are located high up or are numerous, they may mix with the stool.

(3) Rectal prolapse: Prolonged illness can lead to bleeding during defecation.

(4) Anal fissures: Rectal bleeding associated with anal fissures typically presents as blood on one side of the stool surface and is not mixed with the stool. Some patients may also experience dripping of blood after defecation.