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Positive Fecal Blood Test in Crohn's Disease

Patients with Crohn's disease may experience a positive fecal blood test, which would show bleeding in the digestive tract. This type of test is administered to determine if there is any trace of blood in a patient's stools.

  1. Significance of the Fecal Blood Test

    • When blood is in the stools, it is not necessarily apparent to the naked eye. Due to this, a doctor may order a fecal blood test or occult blood test. This test will determine if blood can be detected in the stool. The blood that is detected in this test can show the doctor if there is bleeding anywhere in the digestive tract, from the stomach to the colon.

    Bloody Stools in Crohn's Patients

    • In patients with Crohn's disease, inflammation, ulcers and anal fissures in the digestive tract may cause bleeding in the colon, intestines and rectum. Doctors order fecal blood tests for Crohn's patients to verify if there is any internal bleeding in the digestive tract.

    Next steps

    • If a positive fecal blood test is returned, then the doctor will want to determine the source of the bleeding. A recommended follow-up procedure after a positive fecal blood test is a colonoscopy.

    Treating Internal Bleeding

    • After the colonoscopy is completed, the doctor may place the patient on prednisone or another form of anti-inflammatory steroids if this has been determined to be the source of the bleeding.These drugs work to reduce inflammation and hopefully stop digestive tract bleeding.

    Additional Causes for Bloody Stools

    • If the colonoscopy does not explain the source of the bleeding, your doctor may ask for additional tests. The stomach infection H. pylori can cause stomach ulcers which cause bleeding. An H. pylori test can be completed through a blood or stool sample. Other reasons for a positive fecal blood test include medications such aspirin and NSAIDs or hemorrhoids.

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