Q: Good evening ma’am. Please ma’am,  I want to ask a question. What could be the cause of stooling light blood and it smells so bad? And whenever I use the toilet, I feel pain in my anus. Please, I need an urgent reply ma’am. Thanks

A: Hello! Thanks for writing in.

The first question I have for you is whether the blood is bright red or altered (almost brownish/black)? If it’s bright red, it is likely coming from the anus or somewhere close by. If it’s altered blood, it’s likely coming from higher up in the digestive system eg bleeding from a peptic ulcer. You should see your doctor immediately, if you experience this.

Common causes of bright red bleeding include:

·      Anal fissure

·      Piles (haemorrhoids)

·      Cancer of the rectum or colon

·      Gastro-enteritis: infection of the stomach and intestines

·      Inflammatory…