Black Stool :
Black stool or melena occurs due to bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract and results in blood in the stool. The factors responsible for causing black stool include gastritis, esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, trauma or gastrointestinal perforation, erosion of stomach lining, a tear in the esophagus caused by violent vomiting, viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, cancer in the stomach, esophagus or pancreas, and swollen and ruptured veins in the stomach or esophagus. Black stool is also seen in individuals who consume blood sausage or large amounts of dark foods like blueberries or black licorice, activated charcoal, and iron supplements. To evaluate this condition, investigations like fecal occult blood test, imaging tests like upper endoscopy, CT scan, and CT angiogram are performed. The treatment plan to deal with black stools involves managing the factors causing the bleeding, treating the blood loss by transfusion, stopping the bleeding, IV fluids, and medications to manage gastric issues like ulcers.












