I'm 16 years old, and lately I have been having bloody stools. It's just a little bit of blood, there's no mucus or anything, and it doesn't hurt when I go. What could the cause be?

A.

Finding blood in the stool is often a frightening event. There are many causes of rectal bleeding, and the exact cause is often impossible to determine unless you are examined by a doctor.

Small amounts of rectal bleeding are usually not a serious matter in a teenager. The most common cause of bleeding in this age group is usually a problem involving the anus, such as a hemorrhoid or a fissure (a shallow cut or tear in the anus). However, other diseases, such as colitis, must also be considered. Infections of the anus or rectum can also lead to bleeding.

The most worrisome possibility is cancer of the rectum or colon, very rare in teens; polyps of the colon can occur in the young age group. These are typically not the precancerous type of polyps found in older patients, but are more often benign polyps that bleed more easily.

In your specific case, I suggest that you seek medical advice from your family doctor, who will be able to make additional recommendations.