- 5 main causes of melena
- 1. Gastric ulcer
- 2. Esophageal varices
- 3. Gastritis and esophagitis
- 4. Mallory-Weiss syndrome
- 5. Stomach cancer
- How the treatment is done
Melena is a medical term used to describe very dark (tar-like) and smelly stools, which contain digested blood in their composition. Thus, this type of poop is very common in people who have some type of bleeding in the upper digestive system, that is, in the esophagus or stomach. This allows the blood to be digested with the food, giving the stool a very dark color.
Whenever the presence of very dark stools that may be melena is identified, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist or general practitioner, to identify the cause and start the most appropriate treatment, in order to stop the bleeding and avoid more serious complications, such as anemia, loss of consciousness and even insufficiency in various organs of the body.
5 main causes of melena
The most common causes that usually cause the appearance of melena are:
1. Gastric ulcer
A gastric ulcer is similar to a wound that appears on the stomach wall and can bleed when it is very irritated. When this happens, and depending on the amount of blood released, the stool can end up being very dark and smelly.
Usually, the ulcer is more common in people who have chronic gastritis and, therefore, it is almost always accompanied by other symptoms such as severe pain in the belly, which gets worse after eating, constant nausea and vomiting, for example. Check out other symptoms that can help you identify a gastric ulcer situation.
What to do: When an ulcer is suspected, it is very important to consult a gastroenterologist, as it is necessary to have an endoscopy to confirm the diagnosis. After the diagnosis, the treatment involves making some changes to the diet, as well as using medicines prescribed by the doctor, which can be antacids and gastric protectors.
2. Esophageal varices
Esophageal varices are another relatively frequent cause for the appearance of melena. These varicose veins consist of dilation of some veins in the esophagus, which can eventually rupture, releasing blood into the digestive system which, after passing through the stomach, makes the stools very dark and smelly.
This type of varicose veins is more common in people with liver problems, which increase the pressure on the veins of the digestive system, dilating them. In addition, in most cases, rupture of varicose veins occurs in people who already know they have this type of change in the esophagus, being alerted to the danger of bleeding. When they break, in addition to melena, varicose veins can cause other signs and symptoms, such as vomiting with bright red blood, pallor, excessive tiredness and pallor, for example.
What to do: the rupture of varicose veins in the esophagus is an emergency situation and, therefore, if there is suspicion it is very important to go quickly to the hospital to start the appropriate treatment, which may involve undergoing surgery to stop the bleeding. People with varicose veins must also correctly follow the treatment directed by the doctor, to prevent them from breaking. Better understand what esophageal varices are and how they are treated.
3. Gastritis and esophagitis
Gastritis is the inflammation of the walls of the stomach, just as esophagitis is the inflammation of the walls of the esophagus. Although, in most cases, these inflammations do not cause bleeding, when they are not properly treated, both walls can become very irritated and end up having minor bleeds. When this happens, the person may experience melena, which can also be accompanied by stomach pain, heartburn, malaise and vomiting, especially after eating.
What to do: People with diagnosed gastritis or esophagitis should follow the treatment indicated by the gastroenterologist. However, if there is a suspicion of melena it is important to consult the doctor or go to the hospital, as the bleeding may also indicate that an ulcer is developing, for example, and it may be necessary to adapt the treatment. Check out how gastritis treatment can be done.
4. Mallory-Weiss syndrome
This syndrome can appear after a period of strong vomiting and happens when small fissures appear in the esophagus due to excessive pressure on the walls. In these cases, the person usually presents with vomiting that later ends up evolving with blood and excessive tiredness.
What to do: If you suspect you are developing Mallory-Weiss syndrome it is recommended to go to the hospital to stop the bleeding and start using some medications. In the most serious situations, surgery may also be required to correct the injuries. Learn more about this syndrome and its treatment.
5. Stomach cancer
Although it is much more rare, stomach cancer can also cause the appearance of melena, as it causes bleeding from the walls of the stomach. However, associated with melena, other signs and symptoms also appear, such as weight loss, constant heartburn, loss of appetite, feeling of a full stomach even without eating and excessive weakness. Check out other symptoms that may indicate the presence of stomach cancer.
What to do: Any case of suspected cancer should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible, as the sooner it is discovered, the easier the treatment will be. However, in most cases, treatment is done with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and surgery may still be necessary to remove the affected part of the stomach.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for melena varies a lot depending on the cause, however, in almost all cases it is very important to go to the hospital to confirm the bleeding and stop it, in order to prevent the appearance of more serious complications, such as anemia or failure of several organs.
From that moment, the doctor will evaluate the history of each person and order other tests, especially an endoscopy, to try to identify the cause and, thus, better guide the type of treatment that needs to be done.
