Additional Medical Causes of Black Stool
Aside from gastritis and ulcers, there are various other medical conditions that can lead to black stool. Typically, dark stools are a result of bleeding in the upper portion of the digestive tract, while stools containing fresh, red blood indicate bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In the initial phases, certain cancers like stomach or esophageal cancer may also manifest with black stool.
Signs of Black Stool
There are various additional characteristics that can accompany black stool. In order for stool to appear black, a significant amount of blood or food dye must be present. Along with the change in color, black stool may have other abnormal qualities such as a potent, unpleasant odor. Furthermore, it may possess a sticky or tar-like consistency. To determine the root cause of black stool, doctors may conduct stool tests and other diagnostic investigations.