Different parts of the digestive tract are affected by specific conditions. There are various causes of bleeding in different regions. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a serious symptom that occurs within your digestive tract. Your digestive tract consists of the following organs: Esophagus, stomach, small intestine, including the duodenum, large intestine or colon, rectum, anus

GI bleeding can occur in any of these organs. If bleeding occurs in your esophagus, stomach, or initial part of the small intestine (duodenum), it’s considered upper GI bleeding. Bleeding in the lower small intestine, large intestine, rectum, or anus is called lower GI bleeding.

The amount of bleeding you experience can range from a very small amount of blood to a life-threatening hemorrhage. In some cases, there may be so little bleeding, blood can only be discovered by testing the stool.

Causes of upper GI bleeding

Peptic ulcers are a common cause of GI bleeding. These ulcers are open sores that develop in the lining of your stomach or duodenum. An infection from H. pyloribacteria usually causes peptic ulcers.

Also, enlarged veins in your esophagus can tear and bleed as a result of a condition called esophageal varices. Tears in the walls of your esophagus can also cause GI bleeding. This condition is known as Mallory-Weiss syndrome.

Cause of lower bleeding

One of the most common causes of lower GI bleeding is colitis, which occurs when your colon becomes inflamed.

Hemorrhoids are another common cause of GI or rectal bleeding. A hemorrhoid is an enlarged vein in your rectum or anus.

An anal fissure may also cause lower GI bleeding. This is a tear in the muscular ring that forms the anal sphincter.

Diagnosis

Upper GI bleeding is most commonly diagnosed after your doctor performs an endoscopic examination. Endoscopy is a procedure that involves the use of a small camera located atop a long, flexible endoscopic tube your doctor places down your throat. The scope is then passed through your upper GI tract. The camera allows your doctor to see inside your GI tract and potentially locate the source of your bleeding.

Because endoscopy is limited to the upper GI tract, your doctor may perform an enteroscopy. This procedure is performed if the cause of your bleeding isn’t found during an endoscopy. An enteroscopic exam is similar to an endoscopy, except there’s usually a balloon attached to the camera-tipped tube. When inflated, this balloon allows your doctor to open up the intestine and see inside.

To determine the cause of lower GI bleeding, your doctor may perform a colonoscopy. During this test, your doctor will insert a small, flexible tube into your rectum. A camera is attached to the tube so your doctor can view the entire length of your colon.

You may also undergo a scan to locate your GI bleeding. A harmless radioactive tracer will be injected into your veins. The tracer will light up on an X-ray so your doctor can see where you’re bleeding.

Treatment

An endoscopy can be useful, not only in diagnosing GI bleeding, but also for treating it. The use of special scopes with cameras and laser attachments, along with medications, can be used to stop the bleeding. In addition, your doctor can use tools alongside scopes to apply clips to the bleeding vessels to stop the bleeding. If hemorrhoids are the cause of your bleeding, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments might work for you. If you find that OTC remedies don’t work, your doctor might use a heat treatment to shrink your hemorrhoids. Antibiotics can usually treat infections.