Bloody diarrhoea can be caused by many different conditions. Most of the time bloody diarrhoea is the result of food poisoning or minor infections. Bloody diarrhoea usually improves over 2 to 3 days of restand fluid replacement. Other conditions that can cause bloody diarrhoea include:

• Internal bleeding.

• Infection.

• Diseases of the bowel and colon.

Internal bleeding from an ulcer or bowel disease can be severe and requires hospital care or even surgery.

DIAGNOSIS

To find out what is wrong your caregiver may check your:

• Stool.

• Blood.

• Results from a test that looks inside the body (colonoscopy).

TREATMENT

• Get plenty of rest.

• Drink enough water and fluids to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.

• Do not smoke.

• Solid foods and dairy products should be avoided until your illness improves.

• As you improve, slowly return to a regular diet with easily-digested foods first. Examples are:

◦Bananas.

◦Rice.

◦Toast.

◦Crackers.

You should only need these for about 2 days before adding more normal foods to your diet.

• Avoid spicy or fatty foods as well as caffeine and alcohol for several days.

• Medicine to control cramping and diarrhea can relieve symptoms but may prolong some cases of bloody diarrhea. Antibiotics can speed recovery from diarrhea due to some bacterial infections. Call your caregiver if diarrhea does not get better in 3 days.

SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:

• You do not improve after 3 days.

• Your diarrhea improves but your stool appears black.

SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:

• You become extremely weak or faint.

• You become very sweaty.

• You have increased pain or bleeding.

• You develop repeated vomiting.

• You vomit and you see blood or the vomit looks black in color.

• You have a fever.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.