What should you know about bright red rectal bleeding causes?

Bleeding from the anus can follow constipation, straining, an anal fissure, or haemorrhoids. Inflammation may cause bleeding with diarrhoea, urgency, cramps, or mucus; this pattern can occur with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease. Gastroenteritis may bring bleeding with loose stools, abdominal cramps, or fever. Diverticular Disease can bleed without the same symptoms. Bowel Cancer and Rectal Cancer are less common explanations but should not be dismissed when bleeding persists, recurs, or accompanies a change in bowel habit. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is another condition a clinician may consider when other features point to it.

Write down whether blood is on the paper, coating stool, mixed through it, or dripping separately. Record stool consistency, straining, pain, diarrhoea, fever, fatigue, and recent changes in bowel habit. A clinician may examine the anal area, review medicines, and decide whether blood tests, stool testing, or a bowel examination is appropriate. Do not self-diagnose from colour. If a polyp is identified during assessment, Polyp Removal may be one option.

Get urgent help if bleeding is heavy, continues, or comes with faintness, rapid weakness, confusion, severe abdominal pain, black stool, vomiting blood, fever, or a swollen abdomen. Seek prompt advice for recurrent bleeding or bleeding with unexplained tiredness and a sustained bowel-habit change, even if each episode seems small.

What causes fit the pattern I have described? Do I need an examination or tests? Could a medicine or bowel habit be contributing? What symptoms should trigger urgent review?