Mucus and blood in stool with abdominal pain: 6 Causes explained.

Common causes of abdominal pain, with blood and mucus in the stool, are:

• Dysentery: the most common cause of acute abdominal pain with blood and mucus in stool.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis).
• Proctitis (inflammation of the rectum).
• Diverticulitis.
• Colorectal cancer.
• Intussusception.

1- Dysentery.

Dysentery is a severe form of intestinal infection. Dysentery is characterized by severe diarrhea, blood, mucus in stool, and abdominal pain.

A variety of organisms causes dysentery. The two most common organisms causing Dysentery are

• Entamoeba histolytica (Amoebic Dysentery).
• Shigella bacteria (Bacillary Dysentery).

Symptoms and character:

• Acute onset lasts a short duration (usually 3-7 days).
• Abdominal pain.
• Sudden diarrhea.
• In severe condition, only mucus and blood comes out without poop.
• Urgency: a sudden and intense desire to poop while scanty blood and mucus emerge.
• Frequency: several attacks of diarrhea, blood, or mucus.
• Tenesmus: a sense of incomplete evacuation.
• Fever may exceed 100.4° F (38° C).
• Signs of dehydration (if the condition is severe) include extreme thirst, dry mouth, and dizziness.

The differences between amoebic Dysentery and bacillary Dysentery:

What to do if you think you have Dysentery?

Dysentery is a severe form of gastrointestinal infection. This is more evident with bacillary Dysentery due to severe symptoms.

Sometimes, having an attack of Dysentery requires medical treatment to prevent complications. However, symptoms will go on their own within 3-7 days.

General treatment tips: 

• Rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat bland foods like bananas, rice, toast, and apple sauce (BRAT).
• Over-the-counter antispasmodics and antidiarrheals such as Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).
• Wash your hands, and avoid close personal contact and sexual activity to avoid passing the infection to others.
• In severe cases, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics (Metronidazole for amoebic Dysentery) and even intravenous fluids for severe cases. 

2- Inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a term used to describe two diseases; ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Both diseases are characterized by abdominal pain, blood, and mucus in stool. Undiagnosed inflammatory bowel diseases will lead to chronic abdominal pain and stool changes. 

Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by prolonged inflammation and damage to the lining of the gut tract. The exact cause is still unknown but is considered an immune-mediated disease.

Symptoms of IBD:

• Persistent or recurrent diarrhea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Blood or blood and mucus coming out with or without a stool.
• Weight loss.
• Generalized fatigue.
• Fever may occur.
• Loss of appetite.

Suspect IBD if you have a prolonged history of abdominal pain, mucus, and blood in stool without obvious cause.

For doctors to diagnose IBS, they usually need to perform a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy will help visualize the lesion, and your endoscopist may take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. (ref)

Here are the main differences between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis:

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are major diseases that require medical care and follow-up. Patients always receive strong anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids. If you have a long history of recurrent abdominal pain, blood, and mucus in stool, consult your doctor.

3- Proctitis.

Proctitis is a term used to describe the inflammation of the rectum. Proctitis occurs due to a wide variety of causes. Blood and mucus with stool, severe tenesmus, and lower abdominal pain suggest proctitis.

Common causes of proctitis include:

• Dysentery (explained before).
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Sexually transmitted diseases of the rectum and analicanal.
• Rectal ulcers.
• Anorectal abscesses or fistulas.
• Severe forms of food allergy or intolerance.
• Anorectal cancers.
• Radiation colitis and proctitis.
• Diversion colitis and proctitis. 

Proctitis symptoms include:

• A continuous feeling that you need to have a bowel movement (Tenesmus).
• Rectal bleeding.
• Passage of mucus, alone or with blood and stool.
• Abdominal pain (particularly in the lower left side of your abdomen).
• Diarrhea.
• Painful bowel movements.

Learn more.

4- Diverticulitis.

Diverticular disease is a condition that affects your colon as you get older. Diverticula are small pocket-like bulges in the lining of the colon.

Usually, the diverticula are asymptomatic. However, the diverticula can inflame and cause symptoms.

The inflamed diverticula are called “diverticulitis”. Diverticulitis can cause severe symptoms such as abdominal pain, blood, and mucus in stool.

Symptoms of diverticulitis:

• Abdominal pain, usually in the lower-left side of your abdomen. The pain gets worse shortly after eating. 
• When the inflammation starts, the pain becomes constant and more severe. 
• Blood, mucus with stool.
• Frank anorectal bleeding can also occur.
• Fever.
• Nausea and lost appetite.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect diverticulitis. A colonoscopy is needed to diagnose such a condition.

Learn more.

5- Colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a common disease nowadays.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 21 men and 1 in 23 women in the united states will develop colorectal cancer in the USA. (ref)

It is rare for colon cancer to present with abdominal pain. However, blood in stool is very common with colon cancer.

Colon cancer risk increases with age (especially after age 50). And that is why it is vital to undergo regular colonoscopy screening.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer:

1- Altered bowel movements (constipation or diarrhea): present in 75% of patients.

2- Dark or bright red blood in stool: present in 50% of colorectal cancer patients.

3- A sense of mass in the rectum (in 25%).

4- Anemia (iron deficiency) in 10%.

5- Isolated abdominal pain: is present in only 3.8% of cases (Another cause to have regular colonoscopy screening).

6- Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, fever, and anorexia. 

Although the combination of blood, mucus, and abdominal pain is less common with colorectal cancer. But you should consider such a cause, especially if you are over 50.

Learn more: The differences between IBS and colon cancer symptoms.

6- Intussusception.

Intussusception is a serious form of intestinal obstruction where a part of your intestine slides into the adjacent part (called the telescoping action). 

This leads to obstruction of your intestine and cutting off blood supply to the affected part. 

Intussusception primarily affects children. It can also occur in adults, but it is rare.

Symptoms include:

• Sudden onset of severe abdominal pain.
• Stool mixed with blood and mucus.
• Sometimes it has a characteristic shape called “currant jelly stool.”
• A lump sensation in the abdomen.
• Diarrhea. 
• Vomiting and severe nausea.

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