What you need to know about black stool
Normal human stool is firm, well formed and brown in color due to remnants of our blood. The brown color of stool ranges from light brown (peanut-butter-like) to dark brown (chocolate-spread-like). Bile and bilirubin originate from red blood cells and give stool its brown color. Dark stool indicates that it has remained in the body longer. In newborn babies, fecal matter is initially yellow-green. The appearance and color of stool can vary greatly in adults and young children. The color of stool can tell us a great deal about our health. An abnormal color can have various causes. A change in color may be caused by certain foods, medications or an underlying medical condition.
Do you have black stool? Be alert. In this case, it is advisable to contact your doctor. Black stool is stool mixed with blood. The combination of blood and gastric juices causes the dark color. The blood also gives the stool a sticky texture. It is important to determine what is causing the black stool, because blood in the stool can be dangerous. Read here about the causes and treatment of black stool.
Treatment of black stool
With black stool, a test is first performed to determine exactly what is going on. The stool is tested for occult – in other words, invisible – blood. If the test repeatedly shows that there is blood in the stool, then something is clearly going on. The stool can also be tested for the presence of transferrin, calprotectin or lactoferrin. Anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed. An internal examination is often needed to determine the exact cause of the black stool.
Symptoms associated with black stool and intestinal complaints
Black diarrhea can indicate inflammation in the stomach or intestine, or cancer. Other symptoms include:
- A changing bowel pattern
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- A bloated abdomen
- Sticky stool
Do you recognize these symptoms in combination with diarrhea? Have it investigated as soon as possible to determine whether it is caused by intestinal inflammation or colorectal cancer.
Tests for black stool
For black-colored stool, stool testing through Darmklachten.nl may help. See our recommended test packages and individual modules below.
Causes of black stool
The cause of black stool is not always easy to determine. The cause may be completely harmless. It can, for example, be caused by dark foods such as licorice, blueberries or red wine. Iron supplements or charcoal tablets can also make the stool dark. In that case, there is usually nothing unusual going on. Can you not attribute the black stool to any of these things? Contact your doctor. Black stool can also be caused by a stomach ulcer, intestinal diseases, intestinal inflammation or cancer. Is the black stool accompanied by severe abdominal and stomach pain? This may be a sign of internal bleeding.
Under the Population Screening Act, Darmklachten.nl does not offer the occult blood test. Under this law, the test may only be performed if the request is submitted by a BIG-registered physician (Individual Healthcare Professions Act – Wet BIG) under the following conditions:
The patient falls outside the 55-to-75-year age group
There is an individual request for care or a medical indication
Are you concerned about colorectal cancer, for example because it runs in your family, or do you see traces of blood in your stool? Contact your general practitioner. In this article, we provide more information about the causes of blood in the stool and offer tests that are relevant to inflammation – where blood loss can be a symptom. After a positive occult blood test, an internal examination (endoscopy) will be needed to detect inflammation, polyps or colorectal cancer.
More information about the tests
If you are concerned about colorectal cancer, contact your general practitioner for a test for hidden blood in the stool (occult blood). This test cannot be offered through this platform under the Population Screening Act and the Individual Healthcare Professions Act. Because blood can also enter the stool for other reasons, the following tests can be requested through Darmklachten.nl:
- Calprotectin – Inflammation marker for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – read more…
- Lactoferrin – A natural antibiotic that helps immune cells eliminate harmful bacteria in the body – read more
- TNF-alpha – Messenger molecules (cytokines) that increase during the acute phase of an infection and help fight the infection by inducing fever, stimulating cell death and suppressing appetite – read more
- Beta-Defensin-2 – Anti-inflammatory substance that is produced exclusively in the large intestine and protects it – read more
About darmklachten.nl
Darmklachten.nl is an initiative of MGlab&Advies, a laboratory specializing in stool testing. …read more
