

Some antacids that contain aluminum hydroxide can also cause pale stools. If a person also observes dark urine, this is a further sign that a problem with the gallbladder or liver could be the underlying cause. Pale stools: Pale or clay-colored stools may indicate stones in the bile duct that empty from the gallbladder.Taking iron supplements can also cause stool to become dark green. Green stools: Green stools may be due to bile in the stool.Certain foods, such as licorice or high quantities of grape juice, may also turn stool black. This is because the blood has had more time to travel through the GI tract and darken. Black diarrhea can sometimes point to an upper GI bleed. Black stools: Tarry, black stools or stools the consistency of coffee grounds can indicate potential gastrointestinal bleeding.Stool can come in a range of colors and have various causes: Learn more about diarrhea causes and risk factors here.Ĭhecking stool color can often help a person determine the cause of their gastrointestinal symptoms. eating large quantities of meat and fibers.poor hygiene, including poor handwashing technique.Typical risk factors for diarrhea in general include: Naturally, people with any of the above conditions will be at greater risk of having red-colored diarrhea. In this case, it may only be a small amount of bright red blood. Anal fissure: Sometimes, a scratch in the rectal area can cause the stool to appear bloody.Medications that cause red stools include liquid antibiotics. They can also irritate the stomach and potentially lead to diarrhea. Medications: The side effects of some medications may cause red stool.Hemorrhoids are a common cause of rectal bleeding and red diarrhea. Hemorrhoids: These are swollen blood vessels that occur inside the rectum and anus.Gastric cancers: Bleeding is a common side effect of gastric cancer.Colon polyps: These small growths in the colon can cause bleeding that will be apparent in diarrhea.Foods that can turn stool red include beets, cranberries, red candy, red frosting, red licorice, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Red diarrhea might occur if the food that a person eats causes food poisoning or irritates the stomach. Red foods: Foods that are naturally red or contain red food coloring can turn the stool red.These can cause severe infections that inflame the intestines enough to result in bleeding. The most common causes of dysentery are Shigella bacteria or Entamoeba histolytica, a type of parasite. Dysentery: Diarrhea with blood is known as dysentery.This blood can sometimes appear in the stool, making it red. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can lead to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.Viral infection: Viruses can cause bloody diarrhea, such as rotavirus.Several conditions and factors can cause a person’s stool to appear red.

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