haematochezia

Haematochezia can be due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Haematochezia from an upper gastrointestinal source is an ominous sign, as it suggests a very significant bleed which is more likely to be life threatening.

In babies, haematochezia in conjunction with abdominal pain is associated with intussusception.

Haematochezia is commonly associated with lower gastrointestinal bleeding, but may also occur from a brisk upper gastrointestinal bleed.

The difference between haematochezia and rectorrhagia is that the latter rectal bleeding is not associated with defaecation.

In adolescents and young adults, inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis, is a serious cause of haematochezia that must be considered and excluded.

Clinical signs include haematochezia, haemorrhagic nasal and ocular discharges, epistaxis and clotting dysfunction causing petechiation.

In a newborn infant, haematochezia may be the result of swallowed maternal blood at the time of delivery, but can also be an initial symptom of necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious condition affecting premature infants.