Gastrointestinal Bleeding

• Gastrointestinal Bleeding Overview
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding Causes
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Gastrointestinal Bleeding Overview

The many causes of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding are classified into upper or lower, depending on their location in the GI tract.

• Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Upper GI bleeding originates in the first part of the GI tract—the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum (first part of the intestine). Bleeding can come from ingestion of caustic poisons or stomach cancer. Most often, upper GI bleeding is caused by one of the following:
  
  
  • Peptic ulcers
    
    
  • Gastritis
    
    
  • Esophageal varices
    
    
  • Mallory-Weiss tears
  
  
• Lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Lower GI bleeding originates in the portions of the GI tract farther down the digestive system—the segment of the small intestine farther from the stomach, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Diverticular disease, angiodysplasia, polyps, hemorrhoids, and anal fissures most commonly cause the bleeding. Blood in the stool can result from cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, and infectious diarrhea.