Q. How do I differentiate melena from other black stool clinically?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Melena is most commonly associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, although it can occur with any form of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. The distinguishing feature of melena is that it contains a large amount of digested blood which gives it a black color.
Blood that is passed from the stomach and intestines is usually bright red, so the presence of black (digested) blood indicates that the blood has been in the intestines for some time and has been digested by stomach acids. This process of digestion turns red blood cells into a black sludge, which is why melena has a characteristic "tar-like" appearance.
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