Occult blood

Occult blood refers to blood that is not visible to the naked eye. It is usually detected through a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which is used to find blood in the feces that is not visible. Occult blood in the stool is a sign of a problem in the digestive system, which could be a hemorrhage or another issue such as a ulcer, polyps, colitis, diverticulosis, cancer or hemorrhoids.

Causes

Occult blood in the stool is not normal and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Peptic ulcer
• Gastric cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Diverticulosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Esophageal varices

Diagnosis

The presence of occult blood is usually detected through a fecal occult blood test (FOBT). This test involves taking a small sample of stool and applying it to a special card, slide or test strip that is then analyzed in a laboratory. The test can detect small amounts of blood in the stool that would not be visible to the naked eye.

Treatment

Treatment for occult blood in the stool depends on the underlying cause. If the cause is a peptic ulcer, for example, treatment may involve medications to reduce stomach acid and promote healing. If the cause is colorectal cancer, treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy.

See also

• Fecal occult blood
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Peptic ulcer
• Gastric cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Diverticulosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Esophageal varices