Melena Stool Definition, Causes and More
Article Sources
- 1. 'Melaena - Causes - Diagnoses - Management.' TeachMeSurgery, 3 Apr. 2020, teachmesurgery.com/general/presentations/melena/.
- 2. Tresca, Amber J. 'What Are the Causes of Black Stool?' Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/causes-of-black-stool-1941711.
- 3. 'Melena - What You Need to Know.' Drugs.com, www.drugs.com/cg/melena.html.
- 4. 'Cirrhosis.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Feb. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cirrhosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351487.
- 5. Wilson, I. Dodd. 'Hematemesis, Melena, and Hematochezia.' Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd Edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1990, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK411/.
2. Symptoms
Melenic stools differ from other black stools in that they're pitch black, sticky and have a foul odor. Because melena is caused by bleeding, it means that blood loss is occurring, which may cause anemia.1‘Melaena - Causes - Diagnoses - Management.’ TeachMeSurgery, 3 Apr. 2020, teachmesurgery.com/general/presentations/melena/.
Apart from the obvious change in stool texture, accompanying symptoms may include abdominal pain, vomiting and an overall feeling of weakness. These symptoms arise from mild blood loss. It's possible that more severe blood loss could occur, which would need immediate medical attention or hospitalization.
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