Symptom guide · General Practice & Family Medicine
Black Stools
What black stools can point to, how urgent it is, and who assesses it in the UAE.
Also known as melaena, tarry stools
Treat this as a medical emergency
Black stools can mean bleeding inside the body. Blood loss can be far greater than what is visible.
Go now if any of these apply
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Black, tarry or sticky stools
- Coughing up more than streaks of blood
- Soaking through a pad in under an hour after birth, or passing large clots
- Feeling faint, cold, clammy, or short of breath with the bleeding
Call 998 for an ambulance now. Do not eat or drink anything until you have been assessed.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Also known as
- melaena, tarry stools
- Body region
- Abdomen
- Care area
- General Practice & Family Medicine
- Conditions linked
- 3
Possible causes
Conditions that can cause black stools
Listed alphabetically. This list is not ranked by likelihood.
- GastritisCommon among people with gastritis.
- Helicobacter Pylori InfectionCommon among people with helicobacter pylori infection.
- Peptic UlcerVery common among people with peptic ulcer.
These figures describe how often each condition causes this symptom — not how likely it is that this symptom is caused by that condition. Most symptoms have a common, harmless explanation.
Treatment by cause
How the causes of black stools are treated
Treatment follows the diagnosis, not the symptom. Each row is a linked condition and a treatment used for it.
| If the cause is | Treatment used | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Peptic Ulcer | Acid Reflux Medication | First line |
| Peptic Ulcer | H. Pylori Breath Test | First line |
| Gastritis | Acid Reflux Medication | First line |
| Gastritis | H. Pylori Breath Test | First line |
| Helicobacter Pylori Infection | H. Pylori Breath Test | First line |
| Helicobacter Pylori Infection | Antibiotic Treatment | First line |
| Helicobacter Pylori Infection | Upper Endoscopy | First line |
| Peptic Ulcer | Antibiotic Treatment | Second line |
| Helicobacter Pylori Infection | Acid Reflux Medication | Second line |
Find care
General Clinics & Polyclinics in Abu Dhabi
Where black stools is assessed depends on what is causing it. These are licensed general clinics & polyclinics listed in Abu Dhabi.
27 Ar Ruwwad St - Shakhbout City - MSH4 - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, Cigna, MetLife +20 more
Al Ruwais, Al Dhafrah
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +16 more
Al Bahyah - Al Bahyah Old - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, Cigna, Allianz Care +18 more
Abu Dhabi
Accepts: Daman, Thiqa, AXA, Cigna +27 more
Ordered by verification status and how complete each clinic's public record is, then alphabetically. This is a directory listing, not a ranking — Zavis does not rate or recommend providers.
A factual listing drawn from the DHA, DOH and MOHAP licence registers. It is not a referral, an endorsement, or advice that any of these providers is right for you.
Related symptoms
Other abdomen symptoms
Find care
Who assesses this in the UAE
These are the specialties that treat the conditions linked to this symptom. Every listed doctor holds a UAE licence.
Questions people ask
Can black stools be a sign of peptic ulcer?
Yes. Black stools: very common among people with peptic ulcer. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can black stools be a sign of gastritis?
Yes. Black stools: common among people with gastritis. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Can black stools be a sign of helicobacter pylori infection?
Yes. Black stools: common among people with helicobacter pylori infection. It does not work the same way in reverse — for most people with this symptom the cause turns out to be something else, and more common — so it is not a diagnosis on its own.
Keep reading
More about black stools
Medical disclaimer. This page is general health information, not medical advice, and it cannot diagnose you. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your own symptoms and treatment. In an emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance.