Symptoms and Complications
External hemorrhoids most often itch, burn, or bleed, and can be painful,
inflamed, and swollen. They're the most common cause of bleeding during
bowel movements.
A small, painless emission of very bright red blood just after a bowel movement
is a sign of an internal hemorrhoid; the blood will not be mixed in with the
stool. In small amounts, it's not a serious issue. If bleeding continues, visit
your doctor, as a constant loss of blood may lead to anemia (lack of oxygen
reaching the tissues due to blood and/or iron shortage).
Watch for pain that lasts longer than a week, blood loss along with weakness
or dizziness, or infection - these are all situations that should be brought
to your doctor's attention. Your doctor should also be consulted about bleeding
not brought on by a bowel movement, blood that's dark in color, or bleeding
that is recurrent. This can signal more serious problems higher in the colon,
unrelated to hemorrhoids. Also, children under 12 should be referred to a doctor
if symptoms of hemorrhoids are present.