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A gastrointestinal haemorrhage is when blood enters the center of the digestive tract. Dusty or bloody vomiting, tarry stools, or blood related stools are external signs of internal gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
Symptoms of gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Haemorrhage (bleeding) from the gastrointestinal tract can occur as a complication of many different conditions, and its symptoms depend on the origin and location of the bleeding, and how severe the bleeding is.
Bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, duodenum, and sometimes the initial part of the small intestine, i.e. upper gastrointestinal bleeding, is generally characterized by bloody or coffee grounds-like vomiting (often with clots) and tarry stools. On the other hand, bleeding originating in the large intestine – is characterized by the presence of bloody, heavy and often loose stools.
Gastrointestinal haemorrhage should be treated in a hospital, in a surgical ward, as it is quite often necessary to undergo surgery. It can be concluded that the blood in the stool observed as a result of haemorrhage is the brighter the lower the bleeding source is.
This means that with massive bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract blood in the stool is dark red, cherry, brown, or even black, tar-like stools are observed (when the blood has changed under the action of acidic gastric juice).
In turn, with bleeding from the lower, end-gastrointestinal tract the blood in the stool is usually bright red and is rather visible on the surface of the stool, which in these cases does not have a tarry appearance.
First aid in the course of gastrointestinal haemorrhage
Practical advice needed in pre-medical assistance, in the case of gastrointestinal haemorrhage:
- lay the patient horizontally in bed and instruct not to get up,
- apply cold compresses (wet, ice pack, etc.) to the abdomen,
- you should postpone giving any food in time (you can only rinse your mouth with water or suck ice cubes),
- it is recommended to call a doctor or ambulance immediately.
Note: All, and especially frequent, repeated haemorrhages (even minor bleeding) from the anus should be an indication for consultation with a doctor and careful inspection.
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