What should you know about bleeding from anus and vomiting?

Bright-red blood on toilet paper or on the outside of stool can come from the anus or lower bowel, including haemorrhoids or a small tear. Blood mixed into stool, maroon stool, or black, sticky stool can indicate bleeding higher in the digestive tract. Vomiting may occur with gastroenteritis or food poisoning, and abdominal pain with vomiting can also occur with gallstones or pancreatitis. The symptoms do not identify one diagnosis by themselves; a clinician may need to examine you and review medicines, recent food, and other symptoms.

If bleeding and vomiting are happening together, contact a medical service promptly for advice. Keep a note of when each symptom began, the blood colour, whether it was mixed with stool or vomit, and any pain, fever, diarrhoea, or faintness. If you can keep fluids down, take small, frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration drink. Do not drink alcohol, and do not take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin unless a clinician has told you to. Avoid food until vomiting settles, then restart with light portions.

Go to an emergency department or call emergency services if bleeding is heavy or ongoing, the stool is black and sticky, or blood is also present in vomit. Seek urgent help for severe or worsening abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen, repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, fainting, confusion, marked weakness, pale clammy skin, or trouble breathing. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone taking blood-thinning medicine should seek advice quickly because dehydration or blood loss may become serious sooner.

Ask what may be causing both symptoms, whether you need blood tests or a stool test, and which medicines should be paused or avoided. Tell the clinician about previous ulcers, bowel conditions, liver disease, recent travel, sick contacts, and any blood thinners or supplements you take.