Patient's question:
My brother has been having trouble going to the bathroom recently. He told me that his bowel movements are causing his skin to break. It really scared me. I'm worried something might be wrong. I'd like to ask, is it serious if blood is present in bowel movements? Are there any symptoms that need to be paid attention to?Doctor's answer:
If there is a repeated occurrence of blood in the stool, the severity should be determined based on the amount of bleeding. If there is minimal skin irritation, consider whether it is due to frequent occurrences of hemorrhoids or skin breakdown caused by improper diet. If there is significant skin irritation, it is important to locate the source of bleeding promptly, as it is most likely due to acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Immediate topical medication should be applied.