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Bloody diarrhea, also known as bloody stool or rectal bleeding, can range from bright red to dark red or tar-like in appearance. It can be a symptom of anal fissures, hemorrhoids, infections, inflammatory conditions, and, rarely, colorectal cancer. A healthcare provider can diagnose the underlying cause and prescribe treatments, ranging from dietary changes to medications and surgery.
Blood in diarrhea might be bright red, dark red, or even a super dark, tar-like color. The longer the blood sits inside the digestive tract, the darker it will be. Seeing dark red blood in your diarrhea possibly means bleeding higher up in the digestive tract, which can indicate a more severe condition.
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