The 4 causes of melena are peptic ulcers, cirrhosis with esophageal or gastric varices, gastritis and esophagitis.
Mallory Weiss tears and malignancy also causes melena.
The difference between black stool and melena is black stool can be caused by certain medications, foods or other issues that are not always serious and melena is jet black with a tarry, sticky substance and black stool can be just black and not sticky or tarry.
“Melena” is the medical term for the black, tarry stool that comes from bleeding in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Melena often results from damage to the upper GI tract lining, swollen blood vessels, or bleeding disorders.
The most common cause of melena is peptic ulcer disease, in which painful ulcers or sores develop in the stomach or small intestine.
You should worry if your stool is black or bright red as it can indicate you have blood in your stool and could mean you have an infection or internal bleeding although sometimes it can be caused by certain medication or eating certain foods.
If the black stool does not resolve itself within a few days to a week or so you should seek medical attention.
However if your stool is bright red or dark black you should seek medical attention soon.
Black stool can resolve itself if it's caused by dehydration, certain foods or medications and is not caused by something serious.
If the black stool does not go away or resolve itself within a week or two you should see a doctor as it could be caused by something more serious although most cases of black stool are nothing to worry about.
Dehydration can cause black stool and drinking more water can usually help get rid of black stool if it's caused by dehydration.
Drinking plenty of water and other fluids can help prevent dehydration and promote bowel movement, which can alleviate black stool.
3 causes of black stool are gastrointestinal disease, eating certain foods such as blueberries, blood sausage or black licorice and taking medications such as iron pills, or Pepto Bismol or other medicines containing bismuth.
Black stool or black poop can also be caused by dehydration.
Stool or poop that appears blackish or reddish in color can be a concern.
It can indicate that you have blood in the stool and may be a more serious gastrointestinal tract issue.
However poop or stool that simply seems darker than normal may be the result of dehydration, constipation, or eating dark-colored foods or iron-rich foods or supplements.
The most common causes of black stool or black poop include.
Iron Supplements.
Dark-Colored Foods.
Medicines With Bismuth.
Bleeding Ulcer.
Esophageal and Gastric Cancers.
Mallory-Weiss Tear.
Esophageal Varices.
Liver problems can also cause black stool or black poop.
In the later stages of cirrhosis, you may vomit blood or have tarry, black stools.
This is because blood can't flow through the liver properly, which causes an increase in blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the gut to the liver (portal vein).
Melena is also another cause of black stool or black poop.
If your black stool looks tarry or sticky and has a strong smell, it might be melena.
Melena means you're bleeding somewhere inside.
Internal bleeding is always serious, especially when you can't tell if it's stopped.
The blood that turns your stool black has traveled some distance.