Gastrointestinal bleeding refers to bleeding anywhere in the digestive tract, from the food pipe and stomach to the small intestine, colon, or rectum.The bleeding may be obvious or hidden. Some people notice blood in vomit or stools, while others develop anaemia without knowing that they are losing blood.
Symptoms depend on the location and severity of bleeding and
may include:
● Vomiting blood
● Black, tarry stools
● Bright-red blood in stools
● Dizziness
● Weakness
● Fatigue
● Shortness of breath due to anaemia
● Pale skin
● Fainting in severe cases
Common causes include:
● Stomach or duodenal ulcers
● Gastritis
● Varices
● Gastrointestinal cancers
● Haemorrhoids
● Anal fissures
● Polyps
● Diverticular disease
● Inflammatory bowel disease
● Certain medications
GI bleeding should never be ignored.
Vomiting blood, passing black stools, passing a large amount
of blood, fainting, severe weakness, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness may indicate
significant blood loss and require emergency medical attention.
Doctors may use blood tests, stool testing, upper GI
endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT scans, or other investigations to identify the
source of bleeding.
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of bleeding.
Endoscopy can often be used both to identify the source and control active
bleeding.
Treatment may include medicines, endoscopic procedures,
blood transfusion when required, interventional radiology, or surgery in
selected cases.
Prompt evaluation is important because significant GI bleeding can become life-threatening.
