Often, red blood cells in the feces are indicated in the analyzes. What does this mean?
Red blood cells are red cells that contain hemoglobin. Sometimes they are found in the feces. Normally, red blood cells in the feces are absent. There are two sources of blood in the feces: pathology in the upper digestive system (that is, about the stomach and small intestine) and in the lower (this is the colon and rectum, as well as the anus).
Against the background of heavy bleeding from the upper sector of the digestive system, feces are black, tarry, which is the result of a chemical reaction (under the influence of gastric juice, hematin hydrochloride is formed. Red blood cells from the upper gastrointestinal tract do not reach the feces, as they are destroyed by enzymes. You can only detect blood in the feces using biochemical studies.
With bleeding from the lower digestive system, red blood cells in the stool can be detected using microscopic studies. Often blood in the stool is visible to the naked eye.
A number of foods and drugs can cause a mass to form that looks like a bloody mixture (this can be affected by antibiotics, iron preparations, chocolate, beets, and the consumption of large amounts of dark or green foods).
The reasons for the appearance of red blood cells in the feces will be described in more detail below.
Study Overview
During the microscopic analysis, the volume of the elements in question is calculated in a certain amount of biomaterial. Red blood cells form in the bone marrow, they deliver oxygen to organs and tissues, promoting the transfer of carbon dioxide to the lungs. This is due to the fact that they themselves contain hemoglobin. It is this element that can come into contact with carbon dioxide and oxygen.
A change in the volume of red blood cells, as a rule, is associated with a decrease or increase in the amount of hemoglobin. When their number is reduced, then anemia occurs in patients, and when it is increased, polycythemia is formed. Normally, the life span of an erythrocyte is about one hundred and twenty days. The body tries to maintain approximately the same amount of circulating red components. In this case, the old elements are destroyed, and new ones are formed in the bone marrow.
If the balance between the destruction and formation of red blood cells is disturbed due to their loss, decrease or violation of the formation, then anemia occurs. The most common causes of loss of these red cells are acute or chronic bleeding, as well as internal or external. Another reason is hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells in the bloodstream). The human body is trying to compensate for this deficiency, while increasing the production of necessary components in the bone marrow. This process is regulated by the hormone erythropoietin formed in the kidneys.
Reducing the production of red blood cells is observed when normal functioning in the bone marrow is disrupted. The cause of this pathology may be its infiltration by tumor cells together with the inhibition of its functions under the influence of radiation and chemotherapy due to a lack of erythropoietin (a substance formed in the kidneys that stimulates the formation of red blood cells) or due to a lack of substances that are necessary for the formation of hemoglobin (iron, vitamin B12) , folic acid).
Reducing the production of red blood cells leads to a decrease in their circulation in the bloodstream and to a lack of hemoglobin, which causes insufficient oxygen transfer to the organs. Therefore, a person develops general weakness, regular fatigue. The number of red blood cells in the stool 0-1 in the field of view can be determined subject to more active work of the bone marrow. Various reasons lead to this, for example, excessive levels of erythropoietin, chronic disorders (true polycythemia), and smoking. Such an indicator in the coprogram is a reference value.
How is the red blood cell test in feces?
Description of analysis
Coprogram is a study of feces. This is an analysis of the physical and chemical properties of this biomaterial, as well as all kinds of components and inclusions of different origin that are present in it. It is part of a diagnostic study of the digestive system and excretion. Feces are the final product of the digestion of products in the digestive tract under the action of special enzymes, gastric juice, bile and the vital functions of the corresponding bacteria.
The composition of feces is water, the normal content of which is from seventy to eighty percent, and a dry residue. It consists of live bacteria and undigested foods. Even within the normal range, the composition of feces in different individuals and even in the same person can vary significantly.
In many ways, it depends on human food, as well as on fluid intake. To a large extent, the consistency of this biomaterial can vary with different diseases. The number of certain components in the stool changes with the occurrence of pathology or with a malfunction of the digestive system. Deviation in the work of other body systems can also significantly affect the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, and hence the fecal composition. The nature of changes in the presence of different types of diseases is extremely diverse. The following categories of disorders in the composition of feces can be distinguished:
- The presence of a change in the number of components that are contained in the stool is normal.
- Presence of undigested or undigested food debris.
- The appearance of biological elements and substances secreted from the body into the intestinal lumen.
- Various substances formed from products of material metabolism.
- The presence of microscopic organisms.
- The presence of foreign inclusions of biological and other origin.
How to collect this analysis
It is worth noting that when red blood cells are found in the feces, you should not try to explain this phenomenon yourself and make a diagnosis. Even the doctor will not give a conclusion until he sees the results of the analysis. A coprogram helps a specialist deal with a patient’s problem. The doctor evaluates the tests in conjunction with the available complaints, medical history and data from the examination.
It is easy to collect feces for research. True, it is required to deliver it to the laboratory after morning procedures within 2 hours. It is more convenient to collect feces after sleep. But it is allowed to store it in the refrigerator for no more than six to eight hours. Immediately before this, you need to prepare a dry clean jar with a lid (you can get a sterile pharmacy).
On the eve of a study on red blood cells in feces in an adult and a child, you do not need to change your usual diet. Before the bowel movement, you need to urinate and wash. After it, you will need to put in a jar several pieces of feces taken from various places in the mass. There are also nuances in collecting this biomaterial before or after radiological examinations. Doctors tell their patients in detail about these features before taking the test.
When passing an analysis on red blood cells in feces, doctors do not recommend eating foods that impede diagnosis (beets, iron preparations). Before conducting tests for occult blood, it is recommended to exclude fish and meat from the diet (within 3 days before collecting biomaterial).
In what cases is an analysis prescribed for leukocytes and red blood cells in the feces?
What is the analysis done for?
A similar study is prescribed to patients in the following cases:
- For the diagnosis of various diseases of the digestive system, for example, with pathologies of the liver, pancreas, stomach, small, large and duodenum, biliary tract and so on.
- In order to assess the result of the treatment of diseases of the digestive system, which requires medical supervision.
What do red blood cells in feces 1-2 in the field of vision mean? Let's consider further.
When appointed
It is advisable to conduct this analysis with the following symptoms:
- In case of pain in different parts of the abdomen.
- Amid nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
- With a discoloration of feces and a general deterioration in appetite.
- Weight loss, despite a normal diet.
- Marked deterioration in the condition of hair, skin and nails.
- The presence of yellowness of the skin and eye proteins in combination with increased gas formation.
- When the nature of the disease requires tracking the results of its therapy in the course of treatment.
When red blood cells are found in feces
Many diseases are accompanied by the appearance of blood in the stool. These are ulcerative lesions of the walls of the colon, polyps, hemorrhoids and other ailments can cause increased red blood cells in the feces. With the development of hemorrhoids and the appearance of anal fissures, blood, as a rule, does not mix with feces and is detected in the form of bright red clots on their surface. Traces of it can also be found on toilet paper or directly on underwear.
If red blood cells are found in the feces, is it dangerous?
Of course, such good results do not portend anything good. If the red blood cells in the feces are 1-1 in the field of view, doctors must definitely prescribe additional studies to find out the cause of the excess. We repeat that, ideally, blood in feces should not be at all, but the values of red blood cells 0-1 in the field of view are considered to be reference. You should also know that a positive reaction to hidden components can be noted in the presence of bleeding from the nose and gums.
Decryption of analysis results
How to understand whether or not there is a pathology, having on hand the results of an analysis of red blood cells in the feces? Normally, a dash should appear in the appropriate box. Some lab assistants write "neg", which means the absence of red blood cells in the feces. If any, doctors suspect the development of a disease in humans. The transcript of the study is as follows:
- Using biochemical studies, the patient shows altered red blood cells in a significant amount, and the stool itself is black. This indicates the presence of altered red blood cells in the biomaterial, which is a consequence of gastric or intestinal bleeding. The volume of detected blood reports the intensity of the pathology. Thick black feces indicate the development of an emergency and intense blood loss.
- Red blood cells in the feces, 5-6 in the field of view. What does this mean? Similar can be observed in the presence of bleeding in the lower intestine.
Why does the level of these cells change
As already noted, most often red blood cells in the feces can be detected with the development of ulcerative colitis of the colon, with the appearance of cracks in the anus, as well as in the case of hemorrhoids. It is important to emphasize that in the coprogram, red cells are fixed only in those cases when the place has a lesion of the lower intestinal sectors.
Even massive bleeding from the upper secateurs of the digestive system cannot be the reason for the analysis of erythrocytes in the stool 1-1 in the field of view, since these cells are destroyed by enzymes. So, bleeding from the stomach manifests itself by staining the biomaterial in question in black.
Less rarely, in fecal analysis, macrophages can be found, which are an important criterion in the diagnosis of pathologies such as amoebiasis and bacillary dysentery. A serious symptom is the presence of atypical malignant cells, which are observed in the coprogram during the decay of a rectal tumor. The study of the cytological indicator of this study has important diagnostic value in identifying ulcerative and inflammatory processes in the lower regions of the digestive system.
In feces, not only red blood cells can be detected, but also white blood cells. The norm is considered an indicator of white blood cells in the range of 1-2 in the field of view. If there are more, it speaks of inflammatory processes. The less the white blood cell is changed, the closer to the anus is the focus of inflammation. However, the above norms are true only for adults. In children, there can be much more white blood cells in the feces. This does not apply to red blood cells.
Red blood cells in the feces of a child
Normally, there should be no blood in the feces of babies, that is, it is absent there in hidden and explicit form. The result of the analysis "red blood cells in feces 1-1 in the field of view" and for children is considered a deviation. Sometimes parents report that with such indications, their babies do not have symptoms of any disease (they actively eat, play). However, pediatricians always prescribe additional studies if red blood cells are found in the child's feces, since the disease can be at the very beginning of development, so the symptoms are not yet sufficiently manifested.
If red blood cells in the feces are not found in the child, but the stool itself is too dark, an occult blood test is prescribed. When collecting biomaterial, laxatives and enemas cannot be used.
If deviations from the norm of the color of the bowel movements are noticed by the babies who are breast-feeding, doctors recommend a review of the mother’s diet. Products that contribute to darkening the shade of feces should be excluded from it. Normally, red blood cells in the feces of the baby should be absent.
If such a pathology is observed in an older child, tests are prescribed for him, as for adults. Before collecting biomaterial for occult blood, children should also follow a diet: exclude foods with a high iron content. We are talking about apples, meat, onions and more. The doctor also cancels the iron-containing drugs three days before the study. With the right material collected, results on occult blood should normally be negative.
White blood cells in the baby
It has already been noted above that their norm in children and adults is significantly different. So, babies who are breast-feeding, leukocytes in the feces may have 10-12 pieces in the field of view, and on the artificial one - 10 pieces. However, even with a leukocyte count of feces 15 in the field of view, this is not a pathology. It's just that in infants the work of the digestive tract has not yet been established. Once again, we draw your attention to the fact that red blood cells in the feces of the baby should not be, regardless of what kind of feeding it is. Otherwise, inflammation in the intestine or the occurrence of infection cannot be ruled out.
Which of the children is shown the analysis
Examination of feces is called a coprogram. It is performed in most modern laboratories located in almost any hospital. What are the most common indications for prescribing an analysis for red blood cells in feces? Typically, these are the following factors:
- Violation of the stool (color, texture, smell, the presence of impurities).
- The appearance of blood in the biomaterial.
- Violation of the bowel movement (we are talking about constipation, rapid stool).
- The appearance of abdominal pain and the occurrence of discomfort during bowel movements.
- The presence of suspected digestive failure in the child.
- The occurrence of intestinal infections or suspicion of such.
- A pathological change detected by ultrasound of the abdominal region.
If red blood cells and mucus are simultaneously present in the feces, this is one of the symptoms of inflammatory processes in the intestine.
What consistency is considered normal
Normally, in children who have already crossed the threshold of infancy and eat regular food, this biomaterial is decorated, has a brown color and a consistency of moderate density. What feces is not normal? We are talking about solid and very dense feces, which is observed with digestive disorders. If the baby's feces are ointment, this may indicate a problem with the pancreas or a limited penetration of bile into the intestines.
Liquid masses tell doctors about problems of the small intestine (with an infectious lesion, inflammation in the villi) or the occurrence of colitis. The gruel-like consistency happens against the background of too fast evacuation of digestion elements and in the presence of a fermentation process. However, in infants, such a chair is the norm.
Foamy feces in a child usually indicate a pronounced fermentation process, occurs with some infections. The so-called sheep feces (small, tight, round-shaped, pebble-like) is observed with constipation or against the background of inflammation in the colon. By the way, with such a pathology, red blood cells in the feces in an adult and a child are observed quite often. , , , .
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The form of feces is also an important characteristic, giving an idea of the violations. Normally, it is usually cylindrical. With constipation and any formations in the intestines, feces can be in the form of balls and ovals of different sizes. If it has this form constantly, it is imperative to conduct an examination of the digestive tract.
A tendency to constipation can also be a sign of mechanical obstruction in the rectum, for example, tumors, cysts, polyps. A too fluid consistency indicates an intestinal infection.
In children up to a year, feces are normally mushy. With the intensity of the fermentation process, it can be liquid and foamy. It may also indicate infections. If the baby is breastfeeding for a long time, does not receive complementary foods, his stool may remain unformed for up to a year.
The color of feces and its features
Normally, it can be painted brown with a more or less dark shade. This characteristic is determined by the stercobilin pigment, which is the final product of heme metabolism. An insufficient amount of this substance or its absence reports a viral liver disease, pathologies of the bile and bile ducts. Pale feces are also the result of a passion for a milk diet.
Black color indicates stomach bleeding. Thick, unformed, black feces called melena. Its appearance is almost always an extremely bad sign. An unfavorable symptom is green feces. This is observed with infections in the intestines, and in the case of salmonellosis, bowel movements become the color of swamp mud. However, for infants, greenish feces are considered the norm.
Conclusion
The appearance of red blood cells in the feces is always an alarming sign. It indicates the occurrence of various pathologies, such as bleeding in the intestine (against the background of dysentery, ulcerative colitis), the collapse of the tumor, the appearance of cracks in the anus, the presence of polyps, inflammation of the hemorrhoids, ulcerative formations on the intestinal walls.
We examined the causes of red blood cells in the feces.