Seeing blood in your stool can be alarming. Your first thought might be — “Is it piles?” While piles (also called haemorrhoids or bawaseer) are one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding, they aren’t the only reason. Sometimes, this symptom could point to anal fissures, infections, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or even more serious issues like colorectal cancer. If you notice blood after passing stool, it’s important not to ignore it. Early diagnosis helps prevent complications and ensures proper treatment. In Hyderabad, you can consult Dr. N. Subrahmaneswara Babu, a leading Piles Specialist and Surgical Gastroenterologist in Hyderabad at Hills Gastro & Onco Care, who offers advanced, painless, and laser piles treatment options.
Blood in Stool – Is It Piles or Something More Serious?
Piles cause about half of all rectal bleeding cases. However, several other conditions can also cause blood in stool. The key difference lies in the colour, amount, and accompanying symptoms.
- Bright red blood on tissue or stool usually suggests piles or fissures.
- Dark or maroon blood may come from the colon or small intestine.
- Black, tarry stool may indicate bleeding from the stomach or upper intestine and needs immediate medical attention.
Not all rectal bleeding means something dangerous — but no bleeding should ever be ignored.
Is Blood in Stool Always a Sign of Piles?
No. Many people assume all bleeding means piles, but that’s not always true. Piles often cause painless bleeding, especially during bowel movements, while fissures usually cause severe pain and burning. The safest approach is to let a blood in stool specialist in Hyderabad examine you. With a simple proctoscopy or anoscopy, the doctor can confirm if it’s piles or something else.
Other Possible Causes of Blood in Stool:
- Anal Fissures: Small tears around the anus are caused by hard stools, constipation, or childbirth. Bleeding is bright red and painful. Treatment includes stool softeners, hydration, and laser fissure surgery in chronic cases.
- Diverticular Disease: Inflamed or infected pouches in the colon can cause sudden bleeding with abdominal pain. Needs antibiotics or, rarely, surgery.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Chronic inflammation of the intestine (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) causes diarrhoea, blood in stool, and weight loss. Needs long-term specialist care.
- Colorectal Polyps or Cancer: Polyps are non-cancerous growths that can bleed. If ignored, they may turn malignant. Regular colonoscopy after age 45 is vital for prevention.
- Infections and Gastroenteritis: Bacterial infections (like E. coli or Shigella) can cause bloody diarrhoea, stomach pain, and fever. Treatment focuses on hydration and antibiotics.
Stages of Piles and When Bleeding Occurs:
Piles develop in four grades:
- Grade 1 (Early stage): Small internal piles that bleed occasionally.
- Grade 2: Piles protrude during stool but retract on their own.
- Grade 3: Piles need manual pushing back inside after passing stool.
- Grade 4: Permanently prolapsed piles that stay outside and bleed frequently.
Bleeding is most common in Grade 1–2 piles and becomes painful in Grade 3–4.
When to Worry About Blood in Stool?
You should see a doctor immediately if:
- Bleeding is heavy or continuous.
- Blood is dark, tarry, or mixed with stool.
- You have dizziness, weakness, or fainting.
- There’s severe abdominal pain or weight loss.
- You are over 45 years old and notice new bleeding.
If these red flags appear, it may indicate cancer, IBD, or infection, not simple piles. For accurate diagnosis and safe treatment, consult Dr. N. Subrahmaneswara Babu, a leading Gastroenterologist and Piles Specialist in Hyderabad at Hills Gastro & Onco Care.
Diagnosis – Finding the Root Cause:
At Hills Gastro & Onco Care, diagnosis begins with a detailed history and examination. Tests may include:
- Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) – a simple and quick test to feel for piles or fissures.
- Anoscopy / Proctoscopy – examines the lower rectum with a small scope.
- Colonoscopy – inspects the entire colon for polyps, IBD, or cancer.
- Stool and Blood Tests – check for infection, inflammation, or anaemia.
Accurate diagnosis helps your Proctologist in Hyderabad decide the best treatment plan.
Treatment Options for Piles-Related Bleeding:
At Hills Gastro & Onco Care, Hyderabad, treatment plans are tailored to the severity of piles, ensuring fast recovery and minimal discomfort under the expert care of Dr. N. Subrahmaneswara Babu.
Home & Medical Treatment (Grades 1–2):
- High-fibre diet (whole grains, fruits, vegetables)
- Drink plenty of water
- Sitz baths to ease pain
- Avoid straining during bowel movements
- Topical creams and suppositories
Minimally Invasive Procedures (Grades 2–3):
- Rubber Band Ligation: Cuts off the blood supply to the piles, which shrink naturally.
- Sclerotherapy: Injection therapy for smaller haemorrhoids.
- Laser Piles Treatment in Hyderabad:
- Bloodless, painless, and quick.
- Done under local anaesthesia.
- Recovery within 2–3 days.
- No stitches, minimal recurrence.
Surgical Treatments (Grades 3–4):
- Stapler Hemorrhoidopexy: Fixes prolapsed piles quickly with less pain.
- Conventional Hemorrhoidectomy: Used for large, chronic piles.
Most procedures are day-care surgeries, allowing patients to return home the same day.
When It's More Than Piles – Know the Red Flags?
Sometimes bleeding continues even after the piles treatment. This could mean:
- Polyps or colorectal cancer develop in the intestine.
- IBD with ongoing inflammation.
- Anal fissures that haven’t healed.
If bleeding persists beyond a week or new symptoms appear (weight loss, fatigue, or changes in bowel habits), see a gastroenterologist in Hyderabad immediately.
Conclusion:
Finding blood in stool is never something to ignore. While piles and fissures are the most common causes, serious conditions like IBD or colorectal cancer can also lead to bleeding.
Early consultation with a Piles Specialist or Proctologist in Hyderabad ensures correct diagnosis, timely treatment, and peace of mind. Whether you need painless laser piles surgery, anal fissure treatment, or expert colorectal care, Dr. N. Subrahmaneswara Babu and his team at Hills Gastro & Onco Care, Kompally, provide world-class treatment with compassionate support.
