Symptom Finder - Rectal Bleeding
Rectal Bleeding
No clinician would skip a rectal examination when a patient presents with this symptom, but he or she often avoids visual inspection of the anus and surrounding area because of the embarrassment. Females should have a vaginal examination as well. When the examination is negative, anoscopy should be done before proceeding with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. If hemorrhoids are suspected, be sure and look for other signs of cirrhosis (e.g., hepatomegaly, spider angiomata). Look for petechiae or ecchymosis of the skin and signs of bleeding elsewhere. Once again, one should perform a Rumpel–Leede test along with a coagulation profile when a local cause for the bleeding is not found.
No clinician would skip a rectal examination when a patient presents with this symptom, but he or she often avoids visual inspection of the anus and surrounding area because of the embarrassment. Females should have a vaginal examination as well. When the examination is negative, anoscopy should be done before proceeding with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. If hemorrhoids are suspected, be sure and look for other signs of cirrhosis (e.g., hepatomegaly, spider angiomata). Look for petechiae or ecchymosis of the skin and signs of bleeding elsewhere. Once again, one should perform a Rumpel–Leede test along with a coagulation profile when a local cause for the bleeding is not found.