Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Had Abdominal Cramps And Diarrhea, Have Bloody Mucus With No Stool. Suggest?
Question: I had abdominal cramps and diarrhea last night. All day today I've had abdominal cramps and bloody mucus with no stool.
Brief Answer:
Gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX
Thanks for your query. If diarrhea is not a usual thing for you, the chances of this being an infection are quite high; over 90% of acute diarrhea episodes are infectious in nature and most of them caused by viruses, a smaller proportion by bacteria. When caused by bacteria, they can present with dysentery (blood in stool) and many times an antibiotic is prescribed, such as TMP-SMX or a fluoroquinolone. However, given your risk factors for vascular disease, other more serious conditions such as mesenteric ischemia have to be contemplated, and thus the best course of action would be to be seen and examined by a provider in urgent care/ED as a few tests may be required to make this distinction.
Yours truly,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN
Gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX
Thanks for your query. If diarrhea is not a usual thing for you, the chances of this being an infection are quite high; over 90% of acute diarrhea episodes are infectious in nature and most of them caused by viruses, a smaller proportion by bacteria. When caused by bacteria, they can present with dysentery (blood in stool) and many times an antibiotic is prescribed, such as TMP-SMX or a fluoroquinolone. However, given your risk factors for vascular disease, other more serious conditions such as mesenteric ischemia have to be contemplated, and thus the best course of action would be to be seen and examined by a provider in urgent care/ED as a few tests may be required to make this distinction.
Yours truly,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sir,
I have not had any nausea or vomiting. I have had no problem eating. If this continues through the night I will see my primary care Doctor in the morning.
I have not had any nausea or vomiting. I have had no problem eating. If this continues through the night I will see my primary care Doctor in the morning.
Brief Answer:
Agree
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX
I agree that is a reasonable strategy. Sometimes gastroenteritis presents only with diarrhea, or vomiting, or both, so the abscence of those symptoms does not exclude the diagnosis; nevertheless, I would advise you if abdominal pain worsens to seek urgent care, as I mention, despite the fact that you are young, with risk factors such as diabetes mesenteric ischemia cannot be ignored. That being said, common things being common, it is likely an episode of acute enteritis.
Agree
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX
I agree that is a reasonable strategy. Sometimes gastroenteritis presents only with diarrhea, or vomiting, or both, so the abscence of those symptoms does not exclude the diagnosis; nevertheless, I would advise you if abdominal pain worsens to seek urgent care, as I mention, despite the fact that you are young, with risk factors such as diabetes mesenteric ischemia cannot be ignored. That being said, common things being common, it is likely an episode of acute enteritis.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Sir,
Thank for your advice. I appreciate it. Have a great weekend!
XXXXX
Thank for your advice. I appreciate it. Have a great weekend!
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
Likewise
Detailed Answer:
Same to you XXXXX, God speed
Likewise
Detailed Answer:
Same to you XXXXX, God speed
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
