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Rectal problems are common. Almost everyone will experience some rectal itching, pain, or bleeding at some time during his or her life. These problems are often minor and may go away on their own or with home treatment. Rectal itching pruritus is usually not a sign of a serious disease.

At first, the skin of the anal area may appear red. Itching and scratching may make the skin become thickened and white. Common causes of rectal itching include:. Rectal pain may be caused by diarrhea, constipation, or anal itching and scratching. Rectal pain caused by these conditions usually goes away when the problem clears up.

Other less common causes of rectal pain include:. Many people have small amounts of rectal bleeding. Irritation of the rectum from diarrhea or constipation, a small hemorrhoid, or an anal fissure can cause a small amount of bright red blood on the surface of the stool or on the toilet paper. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures usually occur after straining during a bowel movement because of constipation. This type of bleeding can cause pain during a bowel movement and does not make the toilet water bloody.

It is not serious if there is only a small amount of blood and the bleeding stops when the diarrhea or constipation stops. Home treatment is usually all that is needed. Bleeding can occur anywhere in the digestive tract. The blood is digested as it moves through the digestive tract.

The longer it takes the blood to move through the digestive tract, the less it will look like blood. Often blood that is caused by bleeding in the stomach will look black and tarry. A tarry stool has a black, shiny, sticky appearance and looks like tar on a road.

Blood that has moved quickly through the digestive tract or that begins near the rectum may appear red or dark red. Certain medicines and foods can affect the colour of the stool. Diarrhea medicines such as Pepto-Bismol and iron tablets can make the stool black. Eating lots of beets may turn the stool red. Eating foods with black or dark blue food colouring can turn the stool black.

Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor. Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:. You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.

Blood in the stool can come from anywhere in the digestive tract, such as the stomach or intestines. Depending on where the blood is coming from and how fast it is moving, it may be bright red, reddish brown, or black like tar.

A little bit of bright red blood on the stool or on the toilet paper is often caused by mild irritation of the rectum. For example, this can happen if you have to strain hard to pass a stool or if you have a hemorrhoid. A large amount of blood in the stool may mean a more serious problem is present. For example, if there is a lot of blood in the stool, not just on the surface, you may need to call your doctor right away. If there are just a few drops on the stool or in the diaper, you may need to let your doctor know today to discuss your symptoms.

Black stools may mean you have blood in the digestive tract that may need treatment right away, or may go away on its own. Certain medicines and foods can affect the colour of stool.

If you take aspirin or some other medicine called a blood thinner that prevents blood clots, it can cause some blood in your stools. If you take a blood thinner and have ongoing blood in your stools, call your doctor to discuss your symptoms. Rectal itching is most often caused by dry or irritated skin in the rectal area.

It can also be a sign of pinworms, especially in children. Itching may be more serious if it occurs with a rash or if it does not improve with home treatment. Home treatment for rectal itching includes things like:. It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in. Shock is a life-threatening condition that may quickly occur after a sudden illness or injury. Adults and older children often have several symptoms of shock. Shock is a life-threatening condition that may occur quickly after a sudden illness or injury.

Babies and young children often have several symptoms of shock. Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care. Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Based on your answers, you may need care right away.

The problem is likely to get worse without medical care. Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Call or other emergency services now. Sometimes people don't want to call They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital.

Home treatment for rectal itching depends on the cause of the itching. Try these home treatment measures for the following causes of anal itching:. When you have rectal bleeding, do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. Aspirin and other NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, can cause bleeding in the digestive tract, which can increase the amount of blood in your stools.

These medicines can also make bleeding hemorrhoids bleed more. If you need to use something for pain, try taking acetaminophen , such as Tylenol. Rectal bleeding can be caused by constipation, diarrhea, or hemorrhoids.

Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:.

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Topic Overview Rectal problems are common. Rectal itching Rectal itching pruritus is usually not a sign of a serious disease. Common causes of rectal itching include: Poor cleaning of the area after a bowel movement. Itching and discomfort may occur when pieces of stool become trapped in skin folds around the anus. Medicines, especially medicines that cause diarrhea or constipation, such as antibiotics.

Cleaning of the anus with very hot water and strong soaps. The anal area is normally oily, and this barrier protects against the irritation of bowel movements.

Repeated cleaning or showering will remove these oils and can lead to a cycle of itching and scratching that can be hard to stop. The use of scented toilet paper, scented soap, or ointments such as those that contain benzocaine. A generalized dry skin condition that affects the entire body. This condition is more common in older adults. For more information, see the topic Dry Skin and Itching. Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins near the lower end of the rectum or outside the anus.

For more information, see the topic Hemorrhoids. An infection of the anus or rectum, which may be caused by viruses such as genital warts , bacteria , pinworms , scabies , fungus, yeast, parasites, or passed on by animals.

Pinworms are the most common cause of anal itching in children. Certain foods, such as coffee, tea, cola, alcoholic beverages, chocolate, tomatoes, spicy foods, and large amounts of vitamin C. Rectal pain Rectal pain may be caused by diarrhea, constipation, or anal itching and scratching. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview An anal fissure is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue mucosa that lines the anus.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Feldman M, et al. Anal diseases. Elsevier; Accessed Oct. Anal fissure. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Newman M, et al. Anal fissure: Diagnosis, management, and referral in primary care. British Journal of General Practice. Stewart DB. Anal fissure: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prevention.

If the doctor is unable to remove the foreign body, the person is hospitalized and surgery is needed. During surgery, the person is given a regional or general anesthetic Anesthesia Surgery is the term traditionally used to describe procedures called surgical procedures that involve manually cutting or stitching tissue to treat diseases, injuries, or deformities. Rarely, the rectum needs to be cut open to remove the object. After the object is removed, the doctor does a sigmoidoscopy a flexible tube is inserted into the anus to view the lower portion of the large intestine, the rectum, and the anus to determine whether the rectum has been perforated or otherwise injured.

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Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Commonly searched drugs. Anal and Rectal Disorders. Test your knowledge. Eosinophilic esophagitis is an inflammatory disorder in which the wall of the esophagus, the tube leading from the throat to the stomach, becomes filled with a type of white blood cells called eosinophils.

Which of the following is believed to be the cause of this disorder? More Content. Click here for the Professional Version.