Black tarry stool is a state wherein stool is black or dark red in color. This condition may be normal in few cases but also it may be a sign of internal bleeding or of damagein the gastrointestinal tract. Some signs and symptoms that may accompany black tarry stool may be vomiting, constipation, discomfort in abdomen, pain while defecating.

Bleeding may be due to peptic ulcer or various other reasons. Another reason for black tarry stool can be consumption of some medicines or substances. This is not very serious, but if stool’s color is black due to internal bleeding in the digestive tract it can be a cause of concern. Whenfeces comes in contact with blood it gives stool a dark red or black color.

In any case, if stool’s color is dark and black one should immediately consult a medical expert to rule out any serious underlying medical condition.

Symptoms of Black tarry stool

Some of the signs and symptoms that may be associated with black tarry stool are as follows:

• Nauseated feeling
• Vomiting
• Pain in abdomen
• Cramps
• Inflammation of abdomen
• Gas or indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Symptoms of flu such as coughing, pain, fever, tiredness and headache
• Swelling of abdomen
• Foul smell of feces
• Change in bowel pattern
• Less appetite
• Unexpected weight loss
• Pain in rectum
• Burning sensation in rectum

In some cases, black tarry stool can be a sign of some fatal condition. One should call for medical care immediately if any of the given below symptoms are visible:

• Severe diarrhea
• Dizzy feeling
• Change in alertness level like no response or being unconscious
• Behavioral changes like hallucination, delusion, restlessness, confused state or lethargy.
• Very high fever
• Tachycardia i.e. rapid heart rate
• Problems in breathing like choking, panting, breathlessness, difficulty in breathing, labored breathing or not breathing.
• Palpitations
• Severe and unbearable pain in abdomen
• Vomiting blood
• Abdomen stiffness or cramps
• Generalized weakness

Causes of Black tarry stool

Some of the common causes of black tarry stool are discussed below.

• Black tarry stool can be due to intake of some medicines or ingested substance which includes:
  • Iron supplements
  • Medicines containing bismuth like Kaopectate, pepto bismol
  • Black licorice
• Anomalies in the digestive system can also cause black tarry stool. These could be:
  • Varices, i.e., big veins that protrude in the intestines
  • Misshapen vein
  • Reduced flow of blood to the intestine which is called as ‘bowel ischemia.’
• Some other causes can be:
  • Stomach or peptic ulcer
  • Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Black, tarry feces usually occurs due to bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract which includes the upper part like the stomach, esophagus, and small colon.
  • Maroon colored or reddish stool or bleeding in the rectum is due to hemorrhage in the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract that includes intestine and anus.
  • Sometimes both the above two symptoms are visible together.
• Black tarry stool can occur due to various fatal conditions that cause bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract which includes:
  • Abnormal blood tissues
  • Strained abdomen or esophagus
  • Radiation therapy
  • Bowel ischemia
  • Gastritis: Excess intake of drugs leads to gastritis, wherein the linings of the stomach is eroded or inflamed. The lining contain cell that secretes gastric acid. Injuries to these linings will further lead to indigestion.
  • Stomach cancer
  • Bowel diseases like ulcerativecolitis, Crohn’s disease and diverticulosis leading to inflammation.
  • Diverticulitis occurs mostly due to inactive lifestyle, smoking and consumption of food that lacks fiber. Inflammation of diverticula is called as diverticulitis. When diverticula experiences overgrowth or infestation by viruses or bacteria, then it causes inflammation of diverticula and even its rupture. A burst diverticula gradually leads to bleeding from the rectal part resulting in dark black tarry stool.
  • Stomach ulcer: Ulcers in the stomach tend to bleed. This blood then mixes with the feces causing dark and black defecation. Ulcers typically develop due to infection of bacteria and/or excess consumption of anti-inflammatory medicines such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, etc.

Black tarry stool – picture

Diagnosis

Doctors can identify the cause for black tarry stool by asking few questions about the symptoms. They may gather medical and personal information about the patient including,

• The duration for which the patient is suffering from black tarry stool.
• Any symptom of bleeding from rectum or vomiting of blood or red colored stool
• Consumption of medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplement
• Presence of any additional signs or symptoms
• Development of health complications, if any.

Treatment of black tarry stool

Treatment of black tarry stool varies depending upon the reason for the discolored poop.

• Patients suffering from hemorrhoids-induced stool color changes may opt for use of feces softener as advised by the physician, to alleviate the condition. Sitz baths might also lessen the pain of hemorrhoid and prevent any kind of bleeding.
• Doctors may also prescribe varied medicines such as acidity regulators or reducers; antibiotics to treat any bacterial infection, and immunosuppressant medicines to ease inflammatory bowel diseases and bowel infection.
• Surgeries may be required, if bleeding continues, in case of vein anomalies and blockage.